06/19/2014
Lack of sleep may be the reason why you are piling on the pounds!
Did you know that getting too little sleep at night makes your body put on weight easier? When we are sleeping our body is producing hormones that regulate our appetite and metabolism. Too little sleep creates imbalances in these hormones and we feel hungrier the next day, which makes it easier to eat more.
When we lack sleep our body systems get stressed, and when they do, the adrenal glands start producing excessive cortisol, which is a normal reaction of the adrenals in a stressful situation, and it's perfect in a particular stressful situation when we need the cortisol to carry us through it! However, when this becomes a pattern, a chronic situation so that the stress levels don't go down, the high levels of cortisol will start creating a range of effect you probably won't like. Like insomnia. Or raising your blood sugar, which in turn raises your insulin levels, which then drops your blood sugar - and all of a sudden you are craving something sweet! And by now it is so easy to give in to your cravings and eat something too high in sugar.
When the cortisol levels are high, the body seem to put on the weight around the abdomen, even if you're eating right, and if you are like most of us, you then get stressed about it, and guess what, the cortisol levels rise even more!
Getting enough sleep is crucial for obtaining and maintaining homoeostasis, our body is designed to have these hours of sleep every night! Even before doing any other changes in your lifestyle to lose weight, you should make sure your sleeping pattern is giving you 8-9 hours of restful sleep every single night, and if it is not, change it so that it does! Then, you go on making the other changes, like eating healthier, exercising, etc. If you start exercising before you have lowered your cortisol levels, you are putting your body under even more stress and you will struggle to lose the weight!
Most people plan their day carefully, they plan their vacation, their outfits, their money, etc, but most people never plan their sleep! Your sleep is some of the most important hours of your life, it sets you up for your waking hours. While you are sleeping your body is busy keeping you healthy! But only if you let it!
So, plan your sleep! Make sure that you get a restful 8-9 hours so that you can wake up feeling energised and be ready to start the day and take care of your health even more in your waking hours!
Remember, you have only one body and you have to live in it. Your body was designed to be healthy and there is always a way when we give it the best possible environment!
Good night and sleep tight! Zzzzz zzzZZZzzz