So, you’ve been working hard to reach your fitness goals, right? You’ve stuck to a strict diet and even started working with a personal trainer. But you still haven’t reached your ideal clothing size yet and can’t seem to figure out the missing piece to fitness success.
Believe it or not, the secret isn’t the latest fad diet or new exercise equipment. The reason you’re having trouble shedding the weight is simple but surprising to most people. We’re talking about getting enough sleep to help you slim down and shape up.
We’re going to take a closer look at why high-quality sleep is the key to a better body. And how you can unlock awesome physical fitness by understanding the science of sleep. Keep reading to learn how to fit into those “dream jeans” of yours...
Less Sleep Sabotages Your Diet
Chances are you’ve heard that losing weight is as simple as eating less and moving more. But did you know that getting fewer than 7 hours of sleep per night can undo all the benefits of eating healthier and exercising?
According to a recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, well-rested dieters that get more sleep lose more fat than those that are sleep-deprived. The study proved that when you’re regularly sleeping well, you feel fuller and more satisfied after meals. That means less snacking and more weight loss!
Poor Sleep Changes Your Metabolism
You might feel as if you can power through your day with coffee, even if you didn’t get enough sleep the night before. But your body wholeheartedly disagrees! Especially the hormones that control your metabolism and insulin production.
After just a few nights of sleep deprivation, your body’s ability to control insulin drops by up to a third. That results in fat cells being stored, as well as liver damage and even the development of diabetes.
Sleep Loss Affects Your Cravings
You’ve probably heard that controlling unhealthy cravings is all about willpower and learning to deny yourself. But the reality is that hunger is directed by the hormones leptin and ghrelin, which your body depends on to know when you’re full.
If you’re getting low-quality sleep, your body reduces its production of leptin and increases how much ghrelin is being pumped out. When that happens, you start craving more food and burning less fat. Not a good combination, especially if you’re trying to lose weight!
Without enough sleep every night, your hormone production becomes wacky, and your body will struggle to know when you’ve eaten enough. You might also find yourself seeking to self-soothe by developing cravings for fatty comfort foods like ice cream and pizza.
What all this means is if you’re not getting the high-quality sleep for better health that your body needs, you’ll always feel hungry. You could even find yourself suffering from depression and anxiety, thanks to your body’s hormone center being in an uproar.
Lack of Sleep Wrecks Your Workout
Not only does sleep loss encourage unhealthy eating habits, but it can also wreak havoc on your ability to stay in shape with exercise. When you’re not getting enough rest each night, you’ll struggle to feel well-rested. That, in turn, lowers your natural energy levels and wrecks your motivation.
You’ll also have to deal with unbalanced cortisol levels. Cortisol is the hormone that increases stress and slows down your body’s growth hormone production. That means you could turn to comfort foods to reduce stress and be unable to build muscle when you do manage to drag yourself out of the house to workout.
How to Get a Better Body in Bed
The American Journal of Epidemiology recently published a study focused on weight gain in women. It was found that sleep-deprived females are three times more likely to gain weight than those getting at least 7 hours of quality sack time.
So, what can you do to help yourself get the rest you need to be fit and healthy? It all starts with finding the right mattress for you. How else can you be sure you’re getting the highest levels of comfort and support as you sleep?
Let us help Lull you to sleep with one of our premium memory foam mattresses – at a fraction of the price you’d pay at a big-box department store. With a Lull mattress, you’ll get the high-quality sleep you need for much less than you might think. And we’ll even deliver it straight to your front door, free of charge!