How Sleep Affects Weight Loss

With all the fad diets and exercise trends that are out there, it’s difficult to know which ones are actually worthwhile. But what if one of the best choices you could make on your weight loss journey was as simple as catching a few more ZZZ’s?

Sleep affects nearly every aspect of your health. It can improve mental, physical and emotional wellbeing, making it easier for you to prevent weight gain and even lose a few pounds.

Regulated diet

The hormones that control appetite, leptin and ghrelin, are managed while you rest. Sleep deprivation can throw them out of sync and lengthen the amount of time it takes to feel full once you eat. This can cause you to reach for more quickly-satisfying snacks that are high in fat, and ultimately lead to weight gain.

Restore your fat cells

Insulin is the hormone that controls the storage of materials in the cells and is also regulated by sleep. When functioning well, it removes fatty acids from the blood, lowering blood sugar levels, and preventing storage of fat onto body tissue. Therefore, proper rest can avoid preventable fat buildup and keep weight off.

Improved chance of exercise

After exercise, your muscles are regenerated while you sleep. This makes them stronger and more accustomed to working. When you stay on a healthy sleep schedule, you’ll wake up feeling more energetic and will have a much higher chance of making healthy choices like exercise.

How to prioritize your sleep

• To prevent waking up with sore muscles and stiff joints, make sure your bedroom is somewhere you’ll be able to relax. Get a mattress that’s comfortable enough to curl up into and keep the room at a cool 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Stick to a schedule, giving yourself between 7-9 hours of sleep every night. If you miss an hour or two, make sure to make it up when you can to prevent sleep debt.
• Practice some nighttime self-care that will help you calm your mind and body. This should make it easier to prevent anxious thoughts from keeping you up late.

Sleep is a crucial factor in your overall health and happiness. Make sure you’re maintaining healthy sleep patterns to boost your sense of wellbeing and lose weight!