Hate Your Belly Fat? Cortisol, Stress, Sleep, and What They Have In Common

     Sleep certainly is not one of the first things you think about when you want to lose weight, but in truth, getting adequate sleep is a crucial component of any weight loss plan. It enables your body to function well - and it helps fight against one of the underlying causes of belly fat: cortisol. Let's examine this a bit closer.

One of the most beneficial results of sleep is that it reduces stress levels. When we are under stress, it triggers a chemical reaction inside our bodies that transfers us into a type of "survival" mode. At this time, our bodies create a chemical known as cortisol - and cortisol directly affects the amounts of belly fat. Cortisol basically tells us to save up fat reserves for the 揹ifficult times ahead?

Most people today have some elements of stress in their lives. Financial, personal, social and other obligations add to our stress levels on a regular basis. The incessant bombardment of advertisements and information, 搒elf-imposed famines" that we call 揹ieting? and so much more all contribute to making our stress levels high - and as a result enlarging our waist lines - than ever before. Belly fat cortisol production sky rockets inside of us due to stress.

If you need to lower your belly fat, one rule you need to enforce is to simply slow down and relax. Allow your body the rest and amount of time it needs to create endorphins (the feel-good chemicals that you want instead of belly fat cortisol). Having more endorphins inside you contributes to your feeling more content and upbeat about everything - including your dieting success.

Being sure to get enough sleep is also incredibly important for people who exercise or do muscle strengthening on a regular basis. Sleep gives your body time to repair itself.

Those achy muscles from strength training are brought on by tiny tears inside your muscle tissues, and sleep is when your muscles have a chance to repair and rebuild them - and stronger than before. Those 搑ebuilt?muscles make up the increased lean muscle mass in your body, and the greater amount of lean muscle mass you have, the faster your body burns through calories - even while you are resting.

Getting enough sleep is not always easy or enjoyable. According to research, the majority of people do not get even close to the 7 to 10 hours your body requires. And if you want to get that lean body and fight belly fat cortisol, be sure to get enough sleep to ward off weight gain.

How do you be certain that you are getting an adequate amount of sleep? The easiest way to find out is to simply do a quick review of how many hours of sleep you are getting on a regular basis. If you are lower than 7 hours each night, look at what is keeping you up.

Video games, movies or tv, computer time alcohol or caffeine, and others all act as stimulants that keep you up when you could be getting that precious sleep. Some quick tips for enhancing your sleep time are to avoid caffeine of any kind after noon, do some yoga or stretching, chat with a trusted friend, or journal about the stress in your life.

Try to avoid the use of sleeping aids, and it is entirely too easy to get addicted to them. Discuss them with a physician before usage.

Another great way to encourage good sleeping habits is to make your bedroom a peaceful, quiet place. Use some cheap foam earplugs if noises wake you up, get some heavy curtains to keep out the light in the early morning hours, wind down with a good book or a cup of chamomile tea, or with personal devotions.

These are all ways your 揵elly fat one rule?of getting enough sleep will work for you, how you can ward off the build up of belly fat, cortisol production, and more.

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