Sunday, March 07, 2010

DAY 63 OF THE 100 DAY CHALLENGE!

Get a Good Night’s Rest to Shed Pounds
Studies suggest that a lack of sleep may make weight loss and weight control more of a challenge by altering our metabolism, as well as our eating and activity patterns. Higher levels of insulin, a condition known as insulin resistance, have also been linked to a shortage of sleep in several studies. Excess cortisol could be the link. Since insulin not only controls blood sugar, but also promotes fat storage, extra insulin makes weight loss more difficult. Sleep deprivation can promote weight gain by affecting our behavior. When people low on sleep find their energy dropping throughout the day, many turn to food for a pickup. The short-term rise in blood sugar gives a more energetic feeling, but often the extra calories are not needed by the body and must be stored as body fat. Furthermore, the most appealing foods when we feel low on energy are often sweets or refined carbohydrates with low nutrient density. Sleep experts recommend at least eight hours of sleep a night for most adults. Yet Americans average just under seven hours during the workweek. In fact, a third of American adults reportedly sleep no more than six-and-a-half hours nightly!

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One thing I noticed about getting a good night’s sleep is that as I lost weight and my health improved, it was/is easier to sleep well!  That was something that I really was surprised with.  Before, I could count on waking up a few times each night just from heart burn.  I dreaded going to bed, becasue I new that I wouldn’t be able to sleep!  Now, I LOVE going to bed!

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