The Interesting Relationship Between Sleep And Weight Loss

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Is there a relationship between sleep and weight loss? If so, how does one impact the other? We are all aware of the benefits of good sleep in terms of boosting our immune system and providing us with a means to deal with pent-up stress.

It’s natural to assume that sleeping less and exercising more contributes to your weight loss efforts. But, there are certain benefits to getting enough sleep when you’re trying to lose weight in a healthy manner.

We also need to remember that sleeping directly affects the metabolism of the body. This is one of the main reasons why the importance of rest cannot be overstated. Let’s therefore quickly examine why sleep might be impacting your ability to lose those few extra kilos.

The benefits of a good sleep

No one should doubt the importance of rest. In fact, the benefits of good sleep are essential for your health. Here you can see some of the ways it will help you and how it can affect you if you don’t get enough sleep.

Slow down the metabolism

Being sleep-deprived interferes with the optimum functioning of your metabolism.. Sleep provides us with the ability to heal damage that has been done to the body throughout the day. So, does your metabolism slow down when you sleep? Studies have shown that the metabolism may slow down by up to 15 per cent during the overnight hours. This is only one portion of a larger picture.

Provides energy

Let’s imagine for a moment that you have not been obtaining the proper amount of rest. There is no doubt that your energy levels will be lower throughout the following day. Thus, it is less likely that you will be motivated to perform physical activities such as heading off to the gym for an hour of exercise.

If such a sedentary lifestyle is allowed to become a routine, the chances are high that you will begin to gain excess weight. We can therefore see that even a single night of tossing and turning can dramatically alter your fitness routine.

Benefits of good sleep

Help in psychological factors

We have already examined the relationship between sleep and weight loss in terms of feelings of lethargy and exhaustion. However, it is just as crucial to remember that our mood will also be impacted by a poor overnight schedule. Sleep allows the brain to secrete hormones linked with a positive mood such as serotonin and norepinephrine. These are generally produced during the REM stages of sleep (when we are dreaming).

A lack of these chemicals can dramatically alter our emotional outlook. Here are some potential effects:

  • Feeling as if you are stuck in a mental “haze”
  • A lack of motivation
  • The inability to concentrate

There is an additional hormonal factor to consider. Cortisol is the so-called “stress hormone”. Under normal circumstances, the level of cortisol in the bloodstream rises in the morning and is the lowest late in the evening. The stress associated with lack of sufficient sleep can cause cortisol levels to rise, inhibiting weight loss.

Any of these scenarios will make us less likely to remain enthusiastic about performing physical exercise and similar healthy activities. We may even consume large amounts of sugar to obtain sudden bursts of energy. Once again, these can all contribute to weight gain.

Avoid food cravings

There are hormonal factors at play as well. Two hormones that are relevant to the sleep and weight loss equation are ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin is the hormone that stimulates hunger and leptin is the hormone that sends a message to your brain that you have had enough to eat. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more ghrelin and less leptin. No wonder binging late at night can be so darn compelling.


The most obvious relationship between sleeping and losing weight is that going to bed at a reasonable hour, instead of staying up late, can help you avoid nighttime cravings. Late night eating is often associated with binging. It’s quiet. The stress of the day is behind you. Suddenly, the idea of curling up with a pint of ice cream and a good book seems like a very appealing option.

Eating after dinner is usually about neither hunger nor nutrition. Avoiding night time eating by going to bed earlier is a strategy that works for many. In addition, being well-rested will help give you clarity to make healthy food choices.

 

Best time to sleep for weight loss

Tips for improve the sleep quality

Now that we have clarified the relationship between sleep and weight loss, what professional suggestions should you employ? There are actually several ways in which you can improve sleep quality.

The first involves when you should retire in the evening. What is the best time to sleep for weight loss? This partially depends upon your work schedule as well as when you awake in the morning. However, experts agree that the average adult should obtain between seven and eight hours of rest every evening.

One of the benefits of going to bed early involves the fact that you will feel refreshed and vibrant the following morning. You will also be more likely to embrace a physically active lifestyle if you obtain the proper amount of sleep.

Here are some additional tips and tricks to incorporate sooner as opposed to later:

  • Avoid caffeine after the early afternoon
  • Avoid heavy meals close to bedtime.
  • Sleep in a darkened room that is at a comfortable temperature.
  • Turn off electronic devices such as laptops and mobile phones.
  • Make certain that your bed is ergonomically comfortable.
  • Exercise will help improve the quality of your sleep.

As you look for ways to improve your health and to be successful with your weight loss efforts, getting enough sleep, and better quality sleep, can help. If you want to improve the quality of your sleep in order to complement your weight loss efforts, try putting these tips into practice.

Consider the importance of rest on your journey with Spatz3

Although some of these suggestions may take a bit of time before they become habits, a bit of perseverance will certainly go a long way. Whether you have just been fitted with a Spatz3 gastric balloon or you are simply eager to decrease your body mass index (BMI), there are numerous options at your disposal to make it happen.

If you still find it impossible to obtain a sound night of rest, it could also be a good idea to consult a sleep specialist for additional advice. The relationship between sleep and weight loss is undeniable and making even the slightest of changes can have a profound impact upon your lifestyle.

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