SLEEP AND WEIGHT LOSS
When you think about weight loss, what do you consider the most important ingredients for success?
Most people say “diet and exercise.” Others might say “hydration.”
If you’re like me, your brain might go to “mindset” or “motivation.”
But what about sleep?
Turns out, sleep hasn’t been getting the attention it deserves.
For optimal weight loss, most people need 7-9 hours a night.
Here’s what happens when you DON’T get enough sleep.
– Your body produces more ghrelin.
Ghrelin is that nifty little hormone that tells your brain “Hey, I’m hungry! Gimme some food, please!”
– Your body produces less leptin.
Leptin is ghrelin’s friend. It kicks in when we’ve had enough to eat and tells your brain “I’m full now. You can stop eating.”
Are you seeing the situation here? When you aren’t well rested, your body sends you more hunger signals and less satiety signals – your brain starts telling you to eat MORE.
And that’s not all.
– Your body produces more cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone linked to increased appetite and increased body fat.
– Your frontal lobe doesn’t work as smoothly as it should. Do you know what your frontal lobe is responsible for? Well, it includes things like concentration, thinking, and problem-solving.
Can you imagine making smart choices when you’re struggling to concentrate?
I can’t.
Do your health goals include weight loss?
You might want to start with a good look at your sleep cycle.