Sleep More And Lose Weight
This may seem like an odd subject to discuss with natural ways to lose weight, but have you considered that lack of sleep might be keeping you from achieving successful weight loss?
It's no surprise that with our busy lifestyle juggling work, children and family life, we are compensating some of our sleep so that we can make time for our families. Stress can also hold you back from getting a good night sleep.
The latest research in America found a fascinating link between sleep and the influence this has on our weight. It suggests that people who sleep less weigh more!
It found that the amount of sleep we have has an affect on our hormones that control our appetite. We have two hormones called ghrelin and leptin; ghrelin control our hunger and cravings and leptin controls the feeling of being full.
The study found that if we don't get enough sleep, these hormones become unbalanced- the ghrelin levels rise making you feel hungry and the leptin levels go down making you feel less satisfied causing you to eat more to feel full.
So, how much sleep do you need?
Research has found that you should have at least 7-8 hours sleep every night to help with your weight loss goals.
If you have less than 6 hours a night, it may be a good idea to introduce a steady routine and set a regular time for sleep, catching up with a few extra hours each week can make a difference. Getting the recommended amount of sleep will also help you feel less tired during the day.
In time, once you have established a regular sleep routine you may discover that your hunger and cravings have lessened- and so has your weight!
