Andie Thueson » Wellness » Healthy Living » Healthy Products » Why Sleep Is Crucial for Weight loss

Why Sleep Is Crucial for Weight loss

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This post is brought to you by PureCare but opinions expressed are 100% my own 

Are you feeling stuck and the scale is not moving?

Let me ask you some questions?

Are you exercising? Getting in both some cardio and weights?

Are you drinking enough water? { 2/3 of your body weight in ounces}

Are you eating healthy and making the right choices?

If you are doing all the above and weight loss is still not happening.

Let me ask you another question?

How much sleep are you getting?

Lack of sleep might be your deal breaker! So let’s dive in and review Why Sleep Is Crucial for Weight loss and Optimal Health! 

Did you know that 33% of Adults are sleep deprived?

Why Sleep Is Crucial for Weight loss- If you want to see victory on the scale you might need to take a serious look at your sleep schedule!

Not sleeping enough, as defined as less than seven hours of sleep per night—can reduce and undo the benefits of dieting, according to research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. In the study, dieters were put on different sleep schedules. When their bodies received adequate rest, half of the weight they lost was from fat.

However, when they cut back on sleep, the amount of fat loss was cut in half—even though they were on the same diet!!! What’s more, they felt significantly hungrier, were less satisfied after meals, and lacked the energy to exercise. Overall, those on a sleep-deprived diet experienced a 55 percent reduction in fat loss compared to their well-rested counterparts. – Source Shape Magazine 

Okay so besides affecting your ability to lose fat – it gets worse.

We all know healthy lean muscles are the enemy of fat, but sleep deprivation can even undo your hard work building muscle at the gym!

Scientists from Brazil found that sleep debt decreases protein synthesis (your body’s ability to make muscle), causes muscle loss, and can lead to a higher incidence of injuries.

So not getting enough sleep causes your body to produce cortisol, which makes your body cling onto fat. {Not good!}

It also restricts the bodies production of protein synthesis to help repair and build new muscles while you sleep! {Really Not Good!}

And then there is the fact that sleep deprivation leads to less than stellar food choices. When our bodies are low on sleep, it’s natural tendency is to grab quick energy, which is, of course, carbs and sugar!

I am sure you have noticed when your body is tired, and you are low on sleep saying NO to that donut is 100x harder than when you are well rested! – Trust me it is not your willpower that is failing! It is our body doing its best to keep you going!

So those are a few of the dangers of not sleeping and getting that body you want!

But we all know having a hot body is not as important as our overall health!

Lack of sleep can also play a huge role in that as well!

Studies have shown that sleep deprivation has been linked to the following health issues:

  1. Obesity
  2. Diabetes
  3. Heart Disease and Hypertension
  4. Mood Disorders
  5. Immune Function
  6. Life Expectancy  – decreased by 15%  in those who chronically got less than 5 hours a night!
  7. Stroke
  8. High Blood Pressure
  9. Decreased Libido
  10. Advanced Aging
  11. Brain Fogginess
  12. Impaired Judgement
  13. Increased Risk of Accidents

Sources: Harvard Sleep Study, WebMD

So not getting enough sleep is a BIG deal! Not something to shrug off and just keep downing caffeinated beverages hoping you can make it through the day!

So now that we are all aware of the risks of not getting our precious 7 hours sleep a night.

What can we do to make sure that adequate sleep DOES happen!

If you are like me if something NEEDS to get done you make a list and add it to the top of your LIST!

So do some math and calculate what time you need to get your arse in bed to get those precious 7 hours! Then set an alert on your phone and go to bed when it goes off!

I promise those emails, Pinterest, Facebook, and that one more episode on your binge-watching crusade will be there tomorrow!

Make SLEEP a priority!

Make SLEEP a TREAT!

Yep, I wrote that – and its true, if your mattress and sheets are crap – how do you think that is going to affect your sleep??

Make a grown-up decision and invest in a mattress that works for you! I personally want a soft mattress that makes me feel like I am sleeping on a pillow. That’s my jam – but if you need some a little firmer mattress to find your zen, do that and make the investment! It will be well worth it!

If you have ever seen people forking down big bucks for sheets and thought to yourself, why the heck would you spend that much on sheets! YOU CRAZY!

Well, then my friend you are missing out!

Sheets can be magical when you get just the right set!

I recently had the privilege of trying out the PureCare Celliant sheets – They are super soft and feel amazing against my skin!

So besides the sheets feel like buuuutter – there is a super sciencey geeky goodness to them as well!

The Celliant fibers in the sheets absorb and store energy emissions from the human body and release them back into the skin and deep muscle tissue. This process increases capillary size and circulation, which aids in natural biological processes that allow the body to reduce minor aches and pains, heal faster and sleep better. Visit www.celliant.com to learn more about Celliant technology. The mineral properties of Celliant performance fibers are literally built into each Celliant thread and will not wash out, lasting the lifetime of the sheet set.

 

Super cool right! – So not only is your body repairing on its own through sleep – it is getting some SERIOUS help via those magical Celliant Fibers!

Like many of you, I was a bit skeptical of their claims – But after a few nights of rest on my new sheets I feel like my sleep quality has increased and I am waking up more refreshed in the mornings.

Which I am counting as a win!

Why Sleep Is Crucial for Weight loss- If you want to see victory on the scale you might need to take a serious look at your sleep schedule!

 

So bottom line friends – sleep is HUUUUGE! To quote our President 😉 

I urge you to take a DEEP look at your sleep schedule and make yourself and your sleep a priority! I too am guilty of not doing my best at this! But knowledge is power, and I am now declaring myself a bedtime and sticking to it! 

 

19 Comments

  1. I do NOT get enough sleep. Typically only about 5 1/2 hours/night. I need to do so much better!

  2. Rachael Yerkes says:

    I definitely do not get enough sleep!!! Thanks for the informative email.

    1. Sherry Bowman says:

      I am constantly giving up sleep to get everything else done. Thank You for the EYE OPENER! I need to start making me a priority.

  3. Not enough! Right now it’s only 5 hours because we are doing some remodeling. Usually, I only get 6 hours.

  4. Brenda white says:

    I think it’s pretty much at 5 hours sleep since I wake up every 45 minutes.

  5. Monica @HappyandBlessedHome.com says:

    I get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night b/c I go to bed within 1/2 a hour of my kids! Plus getting up early is so much more productive for me! A few tips for a better morning routine: https://www.happyandblessedhome.com/5-secrets-for-a-better-daily-routine/ Love this giveaway! Thank you!

  6. I average about 4-5 hrs per night

  7. I like 8 hours. I get usually 6. I get 8 some nights but it’s not a restful sleep

  8. If I’m lucky, I get 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. I know it’s not enough but as I’ve gotten older, I have more issues sleeping well.

  9. Maggie Watson says:

    Andie,

    What a great article! I knew I was not getting enough sleep (4-5 hrs a night), but I did not know that it is stopping me from losing those last few pounds that I so much want to lose! But now that I see it in black and white, I believe it! Love all of your tips and info that you send out. You are great!
    Maggie

  10. Allison Fournier says:

    I would like 8 hours of sleep but as my 40’s progress….. I am lucky to get 6hrs uninterrupted. I wake up constantly.
    Great article and prize! Hope I win!

  11. Charlsie N says:

    Right now I’m not getting much sleep cause I have a nearly 4 month old. Maybe 4 to 5 hours a night

  12. I would love to get 7-8 hours of sleep a night but I unfortunately only get 6

  13. Sandra Shaffer says:

    I have made sleep a priority. I feel so much better, but boy I think I could use those PureCare Celliant sheets for an even better sleep experience.

  14. Julie Blanner says:

    This is so interesting! I never thought how much it could affect me!

  15. I really need to work on getting more sleep at night. :/

  16. Becky Hardin says:

    That’s it … I need more sleep.

  17. A better sleep routine is something I’ve been trying to work on. Thanks for sharing.

  18. YUP…I need MORE sleep!!!!

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