Sleep — The Weight Loss Secret You’ve Been Missing
Sleep — the Weight Loss Secret You’ve Been Missing
Did you know that sleep can be the missing link to your weight loss efforts?
When’s the last time you got a really solid night’s sleep?
I’m talking in bed early, clean teeth and face, no cell phones or TV, fresh sheets, crisp pajamas, and fluffy pillow. The kind of sleep you wake up from feeling like a new person.
For a lot of us – especially [us busy sleep deprived mamas] – getting enough sleep feels like a dream.
But sleeping enough is one of the most important things we can do for our health! Proper sleep affects everything from our hormone levels to the health of our skin.
What is Enough Sleep?
You may hear people talk about getting “enough” sleep… but how do you know how much is enough? Well, it depends on you. You will notice you might have different sleep patterns then someone else however striving for longer restful sleep will be beneficial to your weight loss efforts and overall well being.
Striving for 7-9 uninterrupted hours of sleep- I know you probably are like really Ali? Uninterrupted. Yes we all have interrupted sleep however until you get better sleep you won't realize how crappy you were actually feeling on the broken little sleep you were actually getting! Although the idea that we need to sleep in a huge block of time uninterrupted can also be damaging when you feel your body just will not stay asleep! So strive to work on a nightly routine that will calm your mind before your shut eye to encourage better sleep.
You’ll know you’re getting enough sleep when:
You wake up energized
You focus better during the day
You do not feel like you need to nap
You crave less junk food
You have strength to perform better at the gym or during activity
Why Does Sleep Matter?
Sleep is your body’s chance to rest and recharge – literally and figuratively. While you’re sleeping, your brain sorts through all the information and experiences you had and categorizes everything. If you don’t give your brain enough rest, it won’t function well when you’re awake. That leads to things like brain fog, forgetfulness, and headaches.
Getting enough sleep helps strengthen your immune system, [digest food, and balance your hormones]. These are key to being able to maintain a healthy weight!
We know sleep matters for small children, but we often forget it’s still vitally important for us as adults!
How to Get More Sleep
Sleep should be a priority, especially if you’re trying to lose weight or improve your health!
Developing good sleep habits is essential to improving your overall sleep health.
Here are three easy ways to get more sleep:
Avoid blue light 1-2 hours before bed
Read a book or take a bath to relax your body and prepare it for sleep
Develop a nighttime routine-bath or shower, facemask, pajamas, good book, lights out by a certain time!
My favorite way to make sure I’m getting plenty of sleep each night is [going to bed earlier than I want too]. It takes time for your body to get into a relaxed state. Staying up too late can send your body into overdrive which will lead to more restless sleep.
Keep in mind poor sleep can affect your appetite, be cause of obesity/weight gain-(sleep messes with our hunger hormones ghrelin and leptin), and will increase cravings disrupting your ability to make healthier choices!!
Let’s work on getting plenty of sleep!!
Have you had issues with sleep and weight gain?