Sleep and weight loss are two topics that are often discussed together. This is important because a lack of sleep can lead to unhealthy weight gain. When you’re tired, your body craves energy which often comes in the form of sugary, salty, or fatty foods. Eating these foods can give you a temporary energy boost, but it’s not the healthiest way to get the energy your body needs.

Not sleeping enough can also lead to unhealthy snacking, overeating at meals, and making poor food choices.  I’m sure you’ve already had this experience more than once…Having a few too many beers and extra Doritos with some cream cheese dip at 11 pm while the kids were all sleeping…Well, that would not have happened if you headed to bed earlier.

All of these things can contribute to weight gain. On the other hand, proper sleep is crucial for weight loss.  When you’re well-rested, your body has the energy it needs to burn calories efficiently. You’re also more likely to have the motivation and focus on making healthy food choices, sticking with your exercise routine, and conquering the next day…

how important is sleep for weight loss? 

Here are six important Facts:

Sleep Boosts Metabolism

When you’re well rested, your body’s metabolism, or the rate at which it burns calories, is higher. This means you’ll be able to burn up more calories throughout the day, even when you’re not active. As a parent, I know how tricky it is to try to get enough sleep with all that’s going around but make it a habit and a routine to go to bed earlier. Your older self will thank you.

Sleep Reduces Stress Levels

Chronic stress can lead to weight gain, so it’s crucial to find ways to reduce your stress levels. A simple way to accomplish this is by getting enough sleep. When you’re well-rested, your body is better able to manage stress.

Stress is all around us! The news bombards us with North Korean missiles, Anthrax scares, shootings at schools plus a whole bunch of other stuff that surrounds us. The only quiet time we parents often get to have is when we turn off the TV, put our phones down, and while we sleep. Think about that one…

Sleep Improves Hormone Function

Two hormones play a role in hunger and fullness: ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin signals your body when it’s time to eat, while leptin signals your body when it’s time to stop eating. When you lack sleep, your body generates more ghrelin and less leptin, leading to overeating. Booyah! There go the Gremlin hormones taking over at night…oops that’s ghrelin hormones. Either way, keep clear!

Sleep Increases Energy Levels

When you’re tired, finding the motivation to exercise is more challenging. It’s also harder to resist the temptation to eat unhealthy foods. If you need to lose weight to maintain your health, you need to be able to find the energy to stick with your workout routine and make healthy food choices. Getting enough sleep will help you have the energy you need for both things.

Life sucks when you don’t have the energy to keep up with your kids. I’m not bragging, but I’m more than ok to keep up with my 5-year-old, I’m 45. I sleep plenty, work out plenty and have plenty of fun along the way. They are only young once, get yourself an awesome bed and sleep as much as you can to keep your energy levels high!

Sleep Boosts Mood and Cognitive Function

You’re more likely to be in a bad mood when you’re tired. This can lead to poor food choices and difficulty sticking with your weight loss goals. Getting enough sleep will help you feel happier and more motivated to stay on track.

Have you ever seen a bubbly person that lacks sleep? Not, one eh? Cramming for exams all night is not a good idea for your kids too. Get your sleepin’ on now.

Sleep Promotes Tissue Repair

Exercise can lead to muscle soreness, but proper sleep is essential for tissue repair. So, if you want to lose weight and build muscle, you need to get enough sleep so your body can recover from your workouts.

So, how important is sleep for weight loss? As you can see, it’s a crucial part of any weight loss plan. It’s a well-known fact that athletes and bodybuilders take naps and sleep many hours every night to build muscles and burn fat.

Conclusion

If you’re not getting enough sleep, losing weight, and keeping it off, will be difficult. So, make sure you get a minimum of seven to nine hours of sleep every night to reach your goals. I think that going to bed as early as you possibly can and waking up at 5 am is your best bet.

Waking up early has tremendous benefits and can change your whole lifestyle. I’ve been doing this for years and I could never go back to waking up later in the morning…try it out.

So if you’re dieting, reducing sugars, and/or jogging regularly, you should incorporate a better sleep habit to maybe boost the results. You might be surprised what a good ‘shut-eye’ could bring into your life. I suggest reading up on lullabies for adults and their benefits. And think simply…It’s just sleep we’re talking about not 12th-grade trigonometry.

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