Around 2/3 of population of the United States is over weight, and the percentage of people who don’t get enough sleep is most likely more. Sleep is incredibly important when it comes to losing weight and overall health in general for many reasons.
Sleep does many things when it comes to weight loss. A good nights sleep increases the hormone leptin within our body which tells us that we are full. Sleep also decreases the hormone ghrelin which tells us we are hungry. Furthermore, sleep reduces cortisol levels in our body which signals fat storage and muscle breakdown. The combination of these 3 hormones play a major role in what you will eat throughout the day.
Sleep also affects ones energy levels throughout the day. If sleep is not adequate, then energy is low. Low energy can lead to the conscious AND unconscious decision to be less active which means less calories have been burned throughout the day. Low energy can also lead to hunger, cravings, and over eating because your body is looking for a place to get energy.
Feel free to drink coffee to increase energy levels however drink it black. The amount of calories that can add up due to sugar, creamers, milk, etc, is ridiculously high. Try to avoid caffeine later in the day if you believe it keeps you up later into the night.
Between 7-8 hours is usually the recommended amount of sleep for an individual but most people only get 5-6 hours.
Tony isn't a licensed nutritionist yet, so he can't give anyone advice on what to do. Please consult your doctor for his professional opinion on a diet/nutrition program that will work for you.
Tony's blog is a journal of his experiences and what has worked for him. He lists general guidelines and suggestions only. He is NOT a professional.
This is very interesting to me. I guess I never connected the sleep vs weight loss factor. I have been able to "train" my body to sleep only 5-6 hours per day. This was done to be able to achieve my activity and career goals then I just kept going with it. It has led to a richer lifestyle but my health has suffered in some ways. Not so much in weight gain, but more so in appearance. I look older than I feel. This is a great post!
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David
Ummm, yes, I know all about the sleep-deprived fogginess that leads to putting food in my mouth without realizing it. Just thought it was because I liked to eat...not directly related to the lack of sleep. A good thing to reevaluate. Thanks!!
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