Why Sleep Is Important For Weight Loss
When you are trying to lose weight, there are certain things you know you should do.
You give up sugar and junk foods in favour of eating more vegetables, lean protein and complex carbs.
You hit the gym regularly and try to move as much as possible throughout the day.
What you may not realize, though, is that getting enough sleep is a very important part of losing weight.
The amount of sleep you get directly affects your diet.
People who are sleep deprived tend to weigh more and have more trouble losing weight than those who get adequate rest, even when following the same diet.
When you don’t get enough sleep, your body over produces the hunger causing hormones lepton and ghrelin.
You could be more susceptible to overeating, while at the same time being less satisfied afterward.
People who get less than 6 hours of sleep consistently also show glucose and insulin levels and characteristics similar to diabetics, even if they are otherwise very healthy.
Your fat cells lose their ability to properly use insulin. As your body becomes more resistant to insulin, it will produce more and more in order to function.
This leads to fat build up and could eventually lead to disease.
Not getting enough sleep also makes you more stressed out.
A sleep deprived body will produce more of the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol triggers the reward centre in your brain that’s makes you crave food.
Lack of sleep can also lead to more sugar and salty food cravings and make you more likely to say no to unhealthy treats.
Sleeping helps refresh your mind and decision making processes.
Not getting enough sleep can also severely impact your time in the gym.
Your body and muscles need time to repair while you sleep so you can push yourself the next day.
You produce growth hormone while sleeping, which helps burn fat as well repair and build muscles so you can increase strength and lose weight.
It can be difficult to get enough sleep every night with all life’s responsibilities. However if you want to be healthy and lose weight, make your nightly shuteye a priority 😴.