Add a good night's sleep to your boost your weight loss
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EmailRecent research shows that getting a good night sleep is a key ingredient to add to your weight loss regimen.
Getting more rest is the new message to help you maintain a healthy weight and a positive lifestyle. But that seems to be in direct conflict with most health education. The most common message we hear is to increase our physical activity, exercise more frequently and get moving. But new research shows that getting a quality night’s sleep helps to keep your body at a healthy weight.
Recent research shows that individuals who slept more than seven hours a night and reported a better quality night sleep were more successful in their weight loss efforts. The study also noted that individuals who sleep less tend to eat more at night which makes it difficult maintain a healthy body weight. While staying up late, individuals tend to eat higher calorie foods. Additionally, fatigue can affect hormone levels that help the body regulate hunger which can lead to your body holding onto those extra pounds. When you are tired, you are less likely to be physically active. Not getting exercise each day compromises your weight loss goals as well as making it more difficult to get to sleep each night. Since both physical activity and sleep impact each other, this can turn into a vicious cycle.
So what does this research mean? It means that that being well-rested is one ingredient for the recipe to live a healthy lifestyle. The National Center for Sleep Foundation via the Center for Disease Control recommends adults seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Reducing night time distractions like smart phones and television in the bedroom as well as limiting caffeine several hours prior to sleeping will make your nightly winks more successful. Coupling this with healthy eating and physical activity will increase your chances of maintaining a healthy weight.
