Why a Lack of Sleep Makes Weight Loss Harder
By Genevieve Cunningham
It's no secret that most Americans want to lose weight. As a nation, we're suffering in our health, and extra weight is a huge part of that. Dropping a few pounds is essential in getting back on track. But losing weight is really hard. And it's probably even harder if you're one of the many who suffers from insomnia. In order to lose weight, you need to be getting quality sleep. Unfortunately, lack of sleep is another significant problem for most. If you've found your weight loss at a stall, take a look at these reasons why sleep is important for shedding pounds, plus some tips for improving your sleep starting tonight.
You Won't Have Energy for Movement
Have you ever tried to exercise when you're tired? It doesn't work very well. It's hard to get yourself to the gym in the first place, and once you're there, every movement is difficult to complete. Your run will is slower. Your muscles fatigue faster. You struggle to stay on the treadmill or stationary bike for any length of time. Movement is necessary for weight loss, and anything that makes movement more difficult also makes weight loss more difficult. If sleep is hindering your ability to workout, you have to eliminate the sleep problem in order to get weight loss back on track.
Your Body Can't Function at Its Best
Successful weight loss requires an efficient body. You need your circulation to be working well. You need your focus on point. You need your digestion moving and your metabolism raring to go. If your body isn't getting enough sleep, these systems aren't able to function at their best. And this means that the body as a whole becomes sluggish and run down. Even if you're able to drop some pounds, it will be an extremely slow and daunting process. In order to speed it up and make it more efficient, both sleep and body function must be improved.
Tips for Getting Sleep
If you're serious about losing weight, you first have to get serious about getting better sleep. A few tips to get you moving in the right direction might include:
Avoid your phone - We use our phones to stifle the boredom before bed. But if this is your technique, you're probably doing more harm than good. Put your phone down. The less you use your phone, the more likely you are to fall asleep.
Leave work at work - The stresses of work are definitely enough to keep you awake. Once you leave the office, don't worry about work. It'll be there tomorrow. This can lower your stress and ultimately help you sleep.
Losing weight and getting good sleep definitely go hand-in-hand. We underestimate the power of sleep, but if you're serious about good health, it's time to rest up. Make some adjustments in your routine, and make quality sleep a priority in your life. Once you do, you may find that the weight begins to fall off and your health improves like never before.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Glen Carbon, Ill.