Here’s food for thought: Did you know that sleep deprivation is a risk factor for weight gain and obesity?
Lack of sleep can certainly make you feel tired and be less productive, but bad sleep habits can also negatively impact your hormones and metabolism, increasing your appetite and cravings while decreasing your insulin sensitivity — a perfect storm for weight gain. Adding insult to injury, inadequate sleep also impairs your energy and mood, making you less psychologically apt to make healthy dietary choices.
Fortunately, there’s a solution! Improving your sleep may help support your weight loss goals and provide a load of other health benefits! Try these tricks for better sleep, inspired by a recent health story on eatingwell.com.
Stay hydrated! (And limit caffeine!)
A 2018 study revealed that people who got six hours or less of shut-eye were more likely to be inadequately hydrated. Interesting, right? Help your sleep by drinking plenty of water throughout the day until about 3 or 4 p.m. This drinking schedule allows your body plenty of time to absorb and excrete fluids before you sleep, reducing your need for middle-of-night bathroom visits.
Another sleep aid is limiting your caffeine consumption to the morning hours. You can do that, right? For that mid-afternoon slump, instead of reaching for coffee, see the next tip...
Go outside!
Your body truly has an internal clock — it’s not just a thing people say. The light and darkness of day and night influence your body’s circadian rhythms. During the day, the light tells your body to stay alert, while at night, your body is triggered to relax so it can fall asleep easier. If you’re not getting outside at all and stay hunched over your computer all day at work, it can mess with your circadian rhythms so your body doesn’t know what time of day it is. The simple solution is to get outside for just a 3-minute walk. It doesn’t take much to cue your body and sync your internal clock so you can sleep more easily at night.
Exercise!
Studies show that people who exercise sleep longer and get better quality sleep compared to those who don’t exercise. What’s great about exercise is that it not only promotes sleep, but also burns calories, so you’re getting a twofer!
Our mission at Women’s Choice is to bring out your best in every way. If you’re interested in body contouring help, we’ve got a wide range of non-invasive treatments to help you tone and trim your problem spots with no downtime. Call 203-445-0101 or request a consultation today.
