Have you ever considered that the amount of sleep you get can affect your health and your weight?
LetÔÇÖs face it, when weÔÇÖre tired we tend to make fewer healthy choices throughout the day, and we reach for the quick-fix energy boost we need, often in the form of sugar-filled options and processed snacks. When weÔÇÖre tired, we also tend to skip the workout we had planned for the day. For many people, this is an ongoing cycle thatÔÇÖs tough to break.
Adequate sleep sets the stage for everything else. I found this quote online. It seeks to explain the concept of getting enough sleep using science.
ÔÇ£When it comes to body weight, it may be that if you snooze, you lose. Lack of sleep seems to be related to an increase in hunger and appetite, and possibly to obesity. According to a 2004 study, people who sleep less than six hours a day were almost 30 percent more likely to become obese than those who slept seven to nine hours.
Recent research has focused on the link between sleep and the peptides that regulate appetite. ÔÇ£Ghrelin stimulates hunger and leptin signals satiety to the brain and suppresses appetite. Shortened sleep time is associated with decreases in leptin and elevations in ghrelin.
Not only does sleep loss appear to stimulate appetite. It also stimulates cravings for high-fat, high-carbohydrate foods. Ongoing studies are considering whether adequate sleep should be a standard part of weight loss programsÔÇØ – WebMD
But, as I’m sure you already know and have experienced…you feel great when you get good, adequate sleep and almost miserable when you do not! (No science explanation needed.) But think further, not only is it affecting how you feel, but what’s actually going on inside of your body. Your body simply functions better when you get the sleep that you need.
Sleep can also affect your immune function, aging process, memory, learning, and metabolism. Yes, adequate sleep is a big deal! I know that the days I havent had enough sleep that my digestive system is sluggish. And Im sure your experience is something similarsomething is just OFF when you lack sleep. If you have been in a habitual pattern of not getting enough sleep then try to experience something new and refreshing by making a change. You wont regret it.
To get more sleep, set a goal of what time you need to be in bed each night to get the 7-9 hours you need. Try it this week and see if you notice a difference with your energy level and your eating habits. When I get adequate sleep, I just want to sing and jump for joy in the mornings. (Really, my family looks at me strange when I behave this way, but I just cannot help it because it feels so GOOD!) When is the last time you gave yourself the gift of sleep?
Make a commitment right now by writing this goal down on your TO DO list and read it throughout the day.
Write this down: ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm committing to getting _______ hours of sleep each night this week.ÔÇ£┬á (Did you write down your commitment? Really? Go ahead. Do it. Okay. That’s good.)
Guess what prompted me to write this article? I wrote it following one night that I stayed up to work on “things” that I felt were important. I believe I only had 3 hours of sleep that night? Did I pay for it the next day? Yes I did.
So, add something good to your lifestyle: add more sleep. Your body will thank you for doing so.
Much health to you.
