.: Weight Loss Tips - Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

By Chris Waddington

When we think of the most important things that our bodies need, sleep is right up there with food, water and oxygen. The amount of sleep you get on a daily basis can have a dramatic effect on your health and weight. But do we really know how must sleep we really need?

As a general guide most adults should be aiming to get around 7 - 8 hours a day. Our bodies are all different and some people may find they function at their peak on 6 hours of sleep a day while others may need around 9. Sleep deprivation however is a big problem and if you are only managing around 4-5 hours a night then your body is being deprived of sleep.

Lets firstly look at the benefits of getting a good nights sleep:-

1. Sleep Naturally Repairs Your Body

Extra protein molecules are produced while you are sleeping which help to fight infection and cells are repaired by your immune system.

2. Sleep Reduces Stress Levels

A good quality sleep can help lower blood pressure and levels of stress hormones in your body.

3. Greater Concentration

A good nights sleep will allow you to concentrate better the following day and will also aid memory function.

4. More Relaxed

A good sleep will mean you wake up more refreshed and relaxed.

If you are not getting enough sleep on a regular basis then all of the above benefits will be reversed. So this may mean waking up feeling groggy, feeling more stressed and unable to concentrate. You will also be more prone to illness and higher blood pressure. You may think that being deprived of sleep and feeling tired may result in a loss of appetite and weight loss, but the truth is that a lack of sleep may lead to weight gain.

Sleep helps to keep in check the hormones in your body that control your appetite, so if you are not getting enough sleep then your appetite will increase and you will feel even hungrier. Sleep deprivation will cause your body to have reduced energy levels and your body will crave high fat content foods that may give you a temporary boost. These foods tend to be high in calories and salt or sugar, they will not fill you up because they lack nutrition and will leave you sluggish and hungry again very soon.

Nothing will set you better for the day than a good refreshing sleep followed by a well balanced breakfast. To aid your sleep try to limit your consumption of alcohol and spicy foods. Try and unwind naturally before bed with a nice long soak or some relaxation exercises. Try to avoid using alcohol as your main way of unwinding and relieving stress.

If you are looking to lose weight, as well as eating a sensible and balanced diet and taking regular exercise, you need to be getting a good night's sleep every night.

.: Lose Weight While You Sleep: Is It A Possibility, Or A Lie/An Exaggerated Claim/A Myth?

By Danii York-Myers

When you're searching for a new weight loss plan to try, you are literally bombarded with fancy pages full of persuasive sales pitches, too-good-to-be-true claims, impressive promises, and endless testimonials from "satisfied customers".

Such techniques are usually perceived as "dodgy" by those in the know. It's all hype, they say. But is it indeed?

One of the most popular phrases used to promote a diet plan is "lose weight while you sleep".

People have taken to referring to those who make such claims as scammers.

So is there any truth to it? How accurate are such claims? And are they indeed used by scammers to lure people in, and cheat them out of their hard-earned cash?

MYTH: Don't trust anyone who tells you that you can lose weight while you sleep. They're scammers.

TRUTH: This phrase in no way indicates that the person is a scammer.

Some people would call it "an exaggerated claim", and it is perhaps slightly misleading, but that's no reason to associate it with scammers.

Basically, you might feel cheated if you don't know exactly what losing weight while you sleep involves...

Here's what is it:

The diet programmes that make such claims - that you can lose weight while you sleep - will usually introduce you to metabolism boosting techniques and/or muscle-building exercises.

These are the things that can boost your metabolism, hence - make you burn calories while you sleep.

Here are 2 examples:

(1) If you eat a low calorie snack before bed (such as an apple), you will indeed be "losing weight while you sleep", as your metabolism is not going to shut down, and it takes your body more effort to digest this apple than the apple's worth calorie-wise, so... strictly speaking, you'll have burned more calories than you've consumed, which can be described as "losing weight", and this process occurs while you're sleeping if the apple was consumed before bed.

(2) Similarly, if you've lifted weights or done some form of resistance exercise before going to sleep (and, perhaps, eaten a protein snack in addition), your body will continue burning fat for hours afterwards i.e. while you sleep. The more lean muscle mass a person has, the faster their metabolism, and the more fat their body burns naturally. So if you engage in muscle-building workouts, there's a good chance you'll be "losing weight while you sleep".

So no, people that promise you weight loss while you sleep are not necessarily scammers. Do you want to know who the real scammers are?

The real scammers are those who take mainstream, cliched weight loss advice a la "eat healthy and exercise regularly", put it in a slightly different way, stick a price tag on it, and try to sell it to you as ground-breaking information.

They are absolutely everywhere these days.

Yet nobody slated these people, because their (useless, generic, thoughtless, recycled) advice is supposedly "good for you". They don't tell you what effects this so-called "scientifically-proven" method can have on you if you're one of the people unfortunate enough to have a genetic predisposition to weight gain.

Moreover, some people will go as far as saying that anyone who claims that weight loss without exercise is possible, is a scammer. Ridiculous. Of course it's possible! 100% possible, and even recommended -- by those who know the truth about weight loss.

Yes, it is good for general health to make better food choices and engage in some form of physical activity, but doing these things for weight loss is downright counterproductive, and actually damaging to your mental health if you're not a naturally slim person.

.: Sleep and It's Effects on Weight Loss

By Alvin Neo WC

How does the lack of sleep affect us? And how does it have any sort of impact on weight loss? Psychologically it does. When we do not get enough sleep, we tend to be like walking zombies at work. The tendency to reach out for the 6th cup of sweetened coffee or the 4th piece of donut for quick energy is very high. These provides a quick energy bolt which lasts a while before you end up reaching for that box of cookies, these also provide a quick bolt to your calorie consumption!

Do not underestimate calories when you are hungry or tired. The small cookies and snacks consumed accumulate VERY fast. Your coffee probably contains sugar which adds up relatively quick. A simple 8 hour work day could end up having you consuming close to 1500 calories just in snacks trying to keep yourself alert. Your waistline will be in serious trouble.

There is also many studies which talk on how the lack of sleep could affect our blood pressure.

Why Does The Lack Of Sleep Cause this?

Scientifically speaking, there is also a rationale on why additional calories are consumed. 3 hormones are in charge of this. Leptin, Ghrelin and Cortisol. The lack of sleep causes the hormones levels to react and cause a larger appetite to be stimulated. Elaborated below:

Leptin: There are researchers who think that the increase of Leptin may affect the release of Ghrelin mentioned below. What Leptin does is that it signals your brain that your body currently have enough energy stores such as body fat. This hormone is in charge of decreasing our appetite. When you do not have sufficient sleep, the levels of this hormone drops, resulting in our cravings for food.

Ghrelin: This is basically a hormone in charge of increasing our appetite. It is produced by the stomach and it gives our brain signals to let us know we are hungry, which causes an increase an appetite and feeling 'hungry'. Normally this hormone level shoots up before food, which tells us it's time to eat, and goes down immediately after food, for approximately 3 hours.

Cortisol: This hormone level elevates when a person is physically or psychologically stressed. An increase of this hormone will signal the body to consume large quantities of food to compensate for the energy loss and the repairing of the body. The lack of sleep results in an increase of Cortisol which is responsible for the huge amounts of food being consumed, and this additional food is being stored as fat rather than used to replace any sort of energy stores.

So basically the lack of proper and sufficient sleep will cause us to crave for food, and chances are the cravings are going to win when the temptations around you are too strong.

The article above results in in many people asking "Why cant I lose weight?"

So How Much Is Enough Sleep?

Most of us are not getting enough sleep every day, 7-8 hours a day is being recommended, but the average gets probably gets approximately 6 hours a day. So, how much sleep is actually needed? Is it really what everyone says? 7-8 hours? Learn more about it in My Report!

.: Proven Weight Loss Strategies For Sleep Apnea Sufferers

By Steven Park

My wife just commented to me that just by eating dinner about one hour earlier than usual for the past few weeks, she's automatically lost about 2-3 pounds. We normally eat about 3 hours before bedtime, but by the time we finish dinner and have fruit for dessert, it's about two and a half hours before we go to bed at 10PM. Even our children now seem less tired and more alert during the day. Although we decided to make this change to increase our sleep quality, my wife's weight loss was an unexpected side effect. So how does this apply to sleep apnea sufferers?

The Sleep Apnea Stereotype

At almost every sleep apnea lecture that I've seen in my career, the speaker almost always puts up a picture of Joe the fat boy from Dickens' The Pickwick Papers. If you read any scientific study about obstructive sleep apnea, it almost always starts with, "...typically seen in middle aged or older obese men who snore heavily with large necks."

Although described 30 or so years ago in these stereotypical men, now we know that it can occur even in young, thin women who don't snore. But many overweight people, especially as they get older, will snore or have obstructive sleep apnea. It's estimated that overall, about 24% of men and 9% of women will have it, but by the time you reach your 70 to 80s, the incidence about 55%. Being overweight is still a major risk factor for development of obstructive sleep apnea. If you're overweight and have sleep apnea, then it's much harder to lose weight than if you didn't have sleep apnea. Let me explain why.

How Hormones Affect Your Appetite

It's been proven that poor sleep (quality or quantity) can promote weight gain through various mechanisms. Leptin is one major hormone that provides information about energy status to your brain-essentially, it tells your brain that you have enough energy. Low levels of leptin causes hunger. Normally, leptin increases after you eat, but sleep deprivation lowers this hormone, making you hungry. As leptin drops, your cortisol levels will also increase. Poor sleep efficiency also causes a low-grade physiologic stress reaction that increases your cortisol levels. This hormone also makes you more hungry. Other studies have shown that not only will you be more hungry, you'll tend to crave fattier, sugary, high carb foods.

You can imagine how once this process starts, it's a vicious cycle: Poor sleep makes you more hungry, so you eat more or snack close to bedtime. More frequent obstructions causes your stomach juices to be suctioned up into your throat, causing more inflammation and swelling. These juices can then go into your nose and lungs, causing further inflammation and swelling. Weight gain then narrows your throat further, aggravating sleep apnea, which makes you sleep less efficiently.

First Steps Toward Losing Weight

So what can you do if you have sleep apnea and are overweight? Is it hopeless?

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take that if followed properly, can not only help most people lose pounds, but also sleep better in the process. The first and most important thing is to eat as early as possible before bedtime. I know I keep repeating this, but you'll be surprised by how many people continue to eat late or snack just before bedtime. Three to four hours is the general recommendation to avoid eating before going to bed. The only thing you can have is water within this timeframe. The same goes for any kind of alcohol, since alcohol relaxes your throat muscles, aggravating obstructions and arousals.

The second most important thing to do is to make sure that you can breathe well through your nose. If your nose is stuffy, the challenge is in figuring out what's causing your nasal congestion, since there are a number of different reasons. In many cases, there's more than one reason.

Needless to say, you also have to eat healthy and exercise regularly. I'll leave the specific recommendations for other respective experts in this area. One thing to point out, though, is that if you lift weights or engage in any activity that bulks up your upper chest and neck muscles, remember that your upper airway is unprotected, and that that any degree of neck muscle enlargement and press in on your upper airway. This is why many bodybuilders and weightlifters snore.

Eating earlier helps to reduce inflammation and swelling in your throat, and better nasal breathing lessens the vacuum effect that's created in the throat when you breathe in while sleeping. These two steps alone (along with eating healthy and regular exercise) will help many people, but to various degrees. For some, making these conservative changes alone may be enough, but with others, they will need some form of formal treatment for their obstructive sleep apnea.

Sleep More, Lose Weight

Lastly, most people in general are sleep deprived. Lack of sleep, in addition to inefficient sleep due to sleep-breathing problems, can also cause similar weight promoting issues. A great example is when Glamour magazine asked women volunteers to try to get consistently 7.5 hours of sleep every night for 10 weeks. Many women lost anywhere from 6 to 15 pounds, all just by sleeping more. Studies have shown that lack of sleep (5 hours or less) per night is a major risk factor for significant weight gain.

So whether or not you are overweight, the recommendations outlined above will help you to breathe better and sleep better. Even if you are thin and don't have obstructive sleep apnea, following these recommendations can the onset of sleep-breathing problems and ultimately lessen the risks that can go along with obstructive sleep apnea. If you are overweight, this is the first step toward losing unwanted pounds.

Steven Y. Park, MD is a surgeon and author of the book, Sleep, Interrupted: A physician reveals the #1 reason why so many of us are sick and tired. Endorsed by New York Times best-selling authors Christiane Northrup, M.D., Dean Ornish, M.D., Mark Liponis, M.D., Mary Shomon, and many others. http://doctorstevenpark.com

.: Sleep and Weight Loss: No Sleep = No Weight Loss

By Reese Richards

Many reports tie sleep and weight loss together, saying that a lack of sleep can be a cause of weight gain; and that getting enough sleep is a fundamental part of successful weight loss. Findings show the need for ample sleep in order to lose weight, and some information even suggests that sleep deprivation increases food cravings.

Sleep and Weight Loss - Blame the Hormones

Ghrelin is a hormone that is produced in the gastrointestinal tract. It is the hormone that makes you feel hungry or stimulates your appetite. Leptin, on the other hand, is a hormone which is produced in fat cells. This hormone does the opposite - it sends signals to your brain to give you the sensation of being full or that "full" feeling.

When someone is deprived of sleep, the levels of leptin in their bodies drop and the levels of ghrelin rises. This subsequently stimulates their appetites, producing a sensation of being constantly hungry - even if they've just finished eating.

Sleeping an adequate amount of time, preferable 7-9 hours per day, is tied to successful weight loss, and also helps a person resist cravings. When a person is tired the next day from a lack of sleep, it's easy for them to seek out the fast burning, carbohydrates for a quick lift. These starches and sugars, and simple carbohydrates raise the blood sugar abnormally, and trigger the body to store fat. This subsequently can stall weight loss, and will even increase your changes to gain extra pounds of fat.

Sleep and Weight Loss - Eating a Balanced Diet

A balanced diet consists of equal amounts of proteins, fast carbohydrates (starches, breads, sugars), and complex, or slow carbohydrates (most fruits & vegetables). A good night's sleep supports better eating habits, which supports weight loss. So, a good night's sleep can both directly and indirectly affect the success rate in one's attempts to lose weight.

Sleep and Weight Loss - More than a Diet

There are many tricks for helping you get a good night's sleep including dimming the lights as bed time draws near, not exercising too close to bedtime, steering clear of all caffeine from mid-day or later, and drinking milk before bed.

Each person is different, so find what works for you. Eating balanced meals can also help the digestive track function well, which in turn produces less incidences of upset stomach or heartburn - both of which can keep you up at night.

Sleep and Weight Loss - It Requires Discipline

The relationship between successful weight loss and getting enough sleep is not only supported by scientific facts, but it's also a matter of practicality. As a sleep deprived individual tries to function, their focus can be poor, discipline can lag, and distractions can more easily sway a person's decisions, which can be a major contributing factor to a poor diet.

A sleep deprived individual will eat in a more undisciplined manner, and act more impulsively in response to an increasing appetite. A person not focusing on the discipline of eating balanced meals will consume more calories, and any progress in weight loss will go out the window. When you lack sleep, or don't sleep comfortably, or continually wake up throughout the night, it negatively affects your ability to lose weight.

.: Effective Weight Loss With Sleep

By Deejay Kim

Sleep is the most underestimated condition of the body that should be prioritized because of its significance in helping you lose weight. Aside from eating healthier, hydrating your body, and engaging in regular exercise, sleeping as much as necessary is also a vital part of your way of life.

Since a person's metabolic rate is still at work during sleep, this goes to show that getting the recommended hours of sleep a day has a relation towards losing weight because of its effect on a person's behavior, hormones, as well as how their mind and body functions throughout the day.

Lack of Energy

Lack of sleep can greatly affect your energy level during a workout because the less sleep you catch the more you will feel tired and sluggish, causing you to want to skip your exercise regimen and feed your craving for energy boosting food and beverages that will only lead to consumption of excess calories. Without a good amount of sleep, your energy and willpower to workout will diminish as well as your improvement in your weight loss program.

Slow Metabolism

Sleep allows the restoration of your metabolism by letting the body recuperate from the day's tiring physical activities. Failure to give the tissues in your body to rest and be repaired can sooner or later lead to the loss of muscles. Without lean muscle mass, your body will stop burning calories at a high rate and therefore result in a slow metabolism. A sluggish metabolism prevents you from reaching your weight loss goal.

Appetite Control

Obesity is one of the effects of continuous sleep deficiency because of its great influence on your appetite-related hormones called leptin and ghrelin. People who do not get enough hours of sleep increase the quantity of ghrelin, a hormone that stimulates appetite, as a result causes constant hunger and cravings. Leptin on the other hand, is reduced which triggers the body to not have control over its appetite. Catching more z's can truly help in controlling how much and how often you eat for a better weight loss.

Getting a good night's rest should not be taken for granted in order to prevent the negative effects on your health such as lack of energy, a slow metabolism, and an uncontrollable appetite. Your health is at risk when you do not prioritize the amount of sleep necessary for your body. Successful weight loss programs thrive because of healthy eating, regular exercise, and plenty of sleep to rejuvenate the body.

.: Sleep - The Secret to Permanent Weight Loss

By Kerry Fitzgibbon

Is the lack of sleep making you fat? When in the midst of a weight loss journey, there are many people who may put their focus on diet and exercise. While this is not wrong, it is also not balanced. You see, there are several aspects to effectively and safely losing weight; and if you miss one of the important points, you may severely impact your overall success. In the same way you can't have a decent cake without all of the necessary ingredients; you can't have the weight loss success you want without a balanced approach.

The aspect of weight loss that we are discussing in this article is sleep. Ah... sleep, the first thing to go when life gets hectic and there is more to do than hours in the day. Sleep: that thing that "you get plenty of when you're dead". Thinking that staying up all night studying or playing has no relevance to your weight is a mistake that millions of people make on a regular basis.

Does it Really Matter? Diet books, magazines and news stories are replete with advice on getting plenty of Z's each night; but do we really need all that is touted? There is no need to jump to the other end of the spectrum and insist on sleeping 10 hours each night! Getting more sleep, if you already get 7 ½ or more hours per night, isn't going to begin a weight loss phenomenon. However, if you are one of the many who sleep less than 7-7 ½ hours a night, a little more sleep could prove to be THE factor that helps you break out of a weight loss rut.

A Closer Look The obvious need for sleep is the direct impact on energy. Clearly, when you are tired from lack of sleep, you have less energy and motivation to head outside for that run, or hit the gym for some intense training. We tend to stick with the obvious and see this impact only, missing the hidden dangers of sleep deprivation.

When there is a lack of energy, the natural physiologic response is to reach for foods that will provide the energy the body needs to operate. Thus, those who are sleep deprived run more of a risk of ingesting high carbohydrate foods; especially unhealthy ones, such as potato chips, coffee or sugary drinks. While it might seem harmless to take these foods in (they're providing energy to get to the gym, right?), the reality is that their impact on the body lingers long after the workout is finished. In the end, this habit of ingesting high carbohydrate foods to gain energy for exercise turns out to be a vicious cycle.

Sleep is not only a necessary part of rejuvenating the body; but is also highly important to the metabolism. We eat because our bodies are given signals to eat. Those signals come from hormones - two in particular. The hormones ghrelin and leptin are directly affected by sleep; and directly affect our eating patterns. Ghrelin is a hormone that tells the body "Hey! You're hungry!" Leptin, on the other hand, tells the body when to stop eating. When a person is sleep deprived, the result is an increase in the amount of ghrelin and a decrease in the amount of leptin in action. Bottom line: there is a higher craving for food and a lowered resistance to overeating. Double that with the body's need for energy and you've got a recipe for disaster!

Understanding the importance between sleep and weight loss is one thing. Doing something about it is another matter entirely. Lack of sleep may arise from simple reasons, such as not understanding how important sleep really is; or it may come from an underlying issue, such as a sleep disorder or even stress.

In order to facilitate weight loss, take the time to investigate your sleeping patterns and issues.

This list may offer a good place to start:

• Pets are wonderful for adding joy and companionship to a home. However, allowing pets to sleep in your bed may cause enough disturbances to inhibit a good night's sleep.
• Diet affects sleep and sleep affects diet. This is a two way street that definitely impacts weight loss success. First and foremost, it is important to eat well before bed time. While you don't want to go to bed hungry, you also don't want to hit the sheets on a full stomach. It is advisable to eat your last meal several hours before bedtime and have a small snack an hour or so before sleep.
• Keep sleeping space quiet and comfortable. A room that is too warm can impact sleep. The ideal temperature for sleep is 20-22 degrees Celsius.

Sleep can be impacted by many different factors, and has an immense impact on a person's overall health; particularly when it comes to hormones and weight loss. Investigating causes of sleeplessness pays huge dividends on many levels, and may be the key to improving your weight loss efforts.

.: Sleep and the Effect on Weight Loss

By Amy Korn-Reavis

We talk about our weight all the time. We try new food plans, we take up different exercise programs and we say positive affirmations until we are blue in the face. We ask our doctors for help and they tell us to try harder, eat less and exercise even more. When was the last time you were asked how well you sleep? Our quality of sleep affects our weight more than we can ever imagine.

Why You Need to Get 7-8 Hours

We run on less and less sleep so we can get more done and connect to more people. This lack of sleep has a harsh affect on our brain. It will not only effect how we make decisions, deal with emotions and are able to concentrate but it will also affect our appetite. Sleep deprivation causes us to make rash decisions. This can lead to more volatile emotions and negative emotions like stress and anger. This leads to stress eating. It can also lead to eating foods that are high in fat, sugar or salt.

Sleep deprivation also increases the feelings of hunger. People who are sleep deprived will eat more frequently to help keep them awake. Again the foods they choose tend to be high in fat, salt and sugar. This just makes it harder to stay on your choice of food plans.

Sleep Disorders Affect Your Weight

Sleep apnea has been associated with many health problems but the biggest problem where your weight is concerned is the effect it has on your hormones. In particular you Cortisol levels tend to be elevated and stay elevated throughout the night. The stress response every time you stop breathing or have difficulty breathing as obvious by snoring your body responds with the fight or flight reflex and Cortisol is produced and stays elevated High Cortisol levels keep you from being able to lose weight.

Treating sleep apnea and snoring requires you to talk to your doctor about the problems you are having sleeping. You will want to explain all your symptoms not just that you are having difficulty sleeping. People with sleep apnea do not always snore so do not assume that you do not have sleep apnea if you do not snore.

There are many doctors who will say "well, if you lose weight you will not have sleep apnea and snoring" but in order for you to be successful with the weight loss you really need to treat this problem. Your body does not like to be stressed and if you are changing your food and your exercise but you are still stressing your body every night you will not be successful at losing weight. You need to be your best advocate.

Do Not Underestimate the Small Stuff

Weight loss is a challenge under the best circumstances. There are little things you can do to help you to make the weight loss journey a little easier. Sleep is one of the biggest influences that require very little specific work. Making sure you sleep 7-8 hours a day and that the sleep quality are two of the little changes you can do that will help you achieve your goal.

Sleep is as important to health as healthy eating and exercise only easier. Sometimes it takes a sleep coach to help you sort through what you need to change to achieve a good night sleep.

.: The Importance of Sleep in Weight Loss

By Agusta Santoso

If you are seeking to lose a few pounds, you may or may not have heard about how important it is to get enough sleep. This article will provide the specific reasons why sleep is important in trying to lose weight and how it will aid you in your weight-loss endeavor.

Sleep helps the body with metabolism. Metabolism is the rate at which food is taken in, processed, and digested by the body. People with slow metabolisms and fast metabolisms can eat the same amount of food and achieve different results. Sleeping regularly aids the body in metabolizing food by making it easier for the body to store energy broken down from food.

Sleeping helps keep insulin levels down. You need not be a diabetic to understand the importance of healthy insulin levels- you need only be seeking to lose weight. Healthy insulin levels help the body break down sugars, thus preventing them from being stored as excess fats.

Sleep also helps keep leptin levels normal. Leptin plays a key role on energy expenditure, and helps keep the body regular in terms of hormonal balance and in terms of levels of exhaustion. Like many neurological chemicals, it important to have a healthy balance of leptin.

Sleep also prevents insulin resistance, which is important in preventing diabetes and other blood-glucose disorders. Insulin resistance leads to a storage of sugars as body fat. By preventing insulin resistance, you prevent the aggregation of excess sugars in the body as fat.

Sleeping regularly helps maintain a healthy blood pressure. This is important, because the movement of the blood and other circulation-related functions help the body filter out waste.

Sleeping regularly also helps to keep the risk of heart disease low, because it lowers the heart rate and allows the body to repair itself.

Sleep helps give the brain a chance to relax, reboot, and reprogram. This is important, especially in reducing stress. It also helps improve mood, and thus makes it easier to have a positive outlook on life, physical activity, and otherwise restrictive diets.

Sleep helps the body replenish its energy store, thus lowering cravings for carbohydrates-- a prime energy source. By lowering carbohydrate cravings, you lessen the chances of having excess carbs stored in the body.

Sleep also slows the rate of fat storage. This is particularly important in losing weight, as fat storage is particularly undesirable. Additionally, by lowering the rate of fat storage, the rate of waste removal increases, and the body benefits through the detoxification process.

Sleep is very important in overall health, not just weight loss. Healthy sleeping patterns help the body to perform at peak physical condition and therefore helps you perform at your best in any and all aspects, including cognitively, athletically, socially, et cetera.

It is imperative that you get enough sleep, both during and not during weight loss periods. Using the advice in this article will aid you in deciding when to go to sleep, particularly during weight-loss periods. Choosing to sleep over not sleeping is an important decision but may be the one that looses you the most weight.

.: Sleep And Weight Loss - Sleep Is An Essential Part

By Madeleine Innocent

Sleep and weight loss are inseparable companions. When you skimp on your sleep, you can't hope to lose weight in a healthy way. Sleep is an essential part of your health. If you don't sleep well or long enough, this can be one reason you can't lose weight or can't keep it off.

In our crazy, frantic world, where production rules and your earning capacity for your company is king, you may not be getting enough sleep to be healthy.

Working long hours or not having time to unwind after a busy day can be a cause of restless nights. Being anxious about how you are performing at world, or if you are facing being out of work, can lead to anxiety. Anxiety is a great sleep depriver.

As a rough estimate, most people need around eight hours of sleep a night. However, this varies with each individual. It's also more a question of the quality of the sleep, than the length of time you sleep. Taking sleeping pills, may mean you are getting some sleep, but they do not give you quality sleep. It is common to feel drugged or tired after taking them.

And it can be far more beneficial to have two shorter sleeps in a day, than one long one. The Mediterranean idea of an afternoon siesta and a shorter night sleep can be far healthier, wherever you are in the world. Sadly, the current work based world doesn't allow for this, outside the Mediterranean area.

Sleep is the time when you recharge your batteries. It is absolutely essential for your health. Sleep and weight loss are partners, just as sleep and health are.

Education facilities realise that children and adults cannot focus for more than around an hour (much less in reality) at any one time. They allow for short breaks every hour, so that the student can rest their eyes and their concentration, and go into the next session revived.

You should do the same at work if you job requirers a lot of focus and concentration, particularly looking at a computer screen. These breaks are highly beneficial. It means you don't keep piling up the work and the anxiety. Quality sleep at night is more likely to occur.

After work, many people are just as frantic to get their family and household jobs done. This means they are still running on supercharge when it comes to bedtime. It is impossible to go to sleep when you are highly charged, when you are still revving from all your activity.

Let some of the less important parts of your day fall by the wayside. The housework will still be there tomorrow.

By combining things you need to do, you can be more time efficient. For example, time with your children is important for you both. By getting them to help in the meal preparation gives you the opportunity of quality time together, teaches them an essential skill of life and gets their creative juices working.

Relaxing and unwinding before bedtime will ensure you have quality sleep. Don't partake in activities which require a lot of concentration before bedtime. It's probably better not to run a marathon at this time either.

Make sure you consider sleep and weight loss as partners in your efforts to keep your body trim and healthy.

Sleep and Weight Loss

Are you getting enough sleep?  Did you know that sleep and weight loss are linked?

Several studies have linked sleep and weight loss. If you sleep less than six hours a night, you increase your chances of being overweight or obese. The consequences of being obese are significant.  Obesity is strongly related to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even some cancers.

Which comes first? Does the lack of sleep lead to obesity or does obesity lead to a lack of sleep? It turns out they feed off of each other.

• A lack of sleep increases your time awake and therefore increases your chances of eating. Unless you sleep walk, you can't eat while you are sleeping. The midnight snack was invented by people who were awake at midnight.