Dont Lose Sleep Over Weight

Much has been talked about the methods to lose weight and fight obesity. While balanced diet and physical exercise have been diversely and vehemently advertised, proper rest and sleep has taken a back seat.

There is no doubt that a well-balanced diet and exercise accelerate weight loss, but without proper rest, forget about making any progress. It is not e=mc2, but quite as important, perhaps even more.

Lets us delve into the science that explains the correlation between sleep and weight loss.

?I only sleep for five hours a day.? No doubt! The body explains it ? dark circles, lack of energy and concentration, premature wrinkles, big waistline? and these are just to name a few.

The first thing we must understand is that our body goes through a lot of wear and tear during the day. And the only time the ?body mechanics? are repairing it is while we are sound asleep. If not, like anything else, it will also break down.

How much sleep is important?

The answer is adequate. Not less, not more. At least eight hours. Now, in terms of weight loss, lets us see how the body reacts if it is not adequately rested. This is where we bring in the science.

Our body, apart from having a zillion other hormones, also has two hormones that directly affect the regulation of body weight. These hormones are Leptin that suppresses appetite, and Grehlin that increases food craving, which consequently results in overeating. Sleep deprivation lowers the levels of Leptin and raises the levels of Grehlin. This definitely puts things into perspective.

Moreover, inadequate sleep also takes its toll on our energy level, which in turn makes us lethargic. Now, who goes to exercise while feeling listless? No exercise, no calories burnt: no calories burnt, no weight lost. The math is simple!

How to sleep well

Today, with so much stress, mixed priorities and unhealthy habits, sleeping soundly has become a struggle. Most of the time, we end up sleeping in the wee hours of the morning, in spite of hitting the sack quite early. This not only leaves us sleepy during the day but also irritated and frustrated.

The only way to fight this is to develop a healthier lifestyle by staying fit through exercise, eating healthy, avoiding cigarettes and alcohol and distressing. If lying is bed is becoming a ritual where you are staring at the ceiling for hours, its time to wake up and do something about it. For starters, make the bedroom cozy and warm, take a warm bath before going to bed, read a book, eat the last meal of the day at least three hours before bedtime.

Life is quite simple if the priorities are set right. And sleeping should definitely be high on the list. Depriving the body of adequate rest is unhealthy and the repercussions can be quite overwhelming. Getting fat and overweight is just one of them. Take notice, because the list is pretty long.

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