We perform multiple habits to get healthier and happier in our lives, but let me tell you the habit that always gets overlooked, the thing that is going to make your weight loss goals even easier is your SLEEP.
One might think that by being awake, their heart rate is higher and thus they would be burning more calories, but in the end, the time that we are asleep can actually change some internal chemistry which makes our body eventually burn more fat.
According to a doctor at Stanford Health Care in California, most adults on average need 7-7.5 hours of sleep every day.
A real clue whether you’re getting enough sleep or not is based on what you do on weekends. If somebody is “sleeping in” on a weekend and is trying to catch up on sleep, obviously it suggests that they are sleep-deprived during the week.
This does not just affect our body but also impacts our immune system. Lack of energy and sleepiness are often tackled by caffeine and sugar intake, leading to weight gain and more fat produced in our bodies.
Metabolically, when our bodies don’t get enough sleep, our bodies tend to produce lower levels of a hormone called Leptin, which is responsible for signaling to the brain that the body is going into starvation mode. Thus our brain starts looking for ways to reduce and save energy which includes using fewer calories. This, signals hunger and looks for more calorie-dense food. Lower leptin makes it easier to hang on to fat. Apart from Leptin, Insulin and Cortisol also are affected if sleeping patterns are not regular.
We snack when we are deprived of sleep, and we snack at the worst possible time. We also take sleeping pills without consulting a physician. Eating during night time leads to more weight gain than eating the same calories eating in day time. Not just nutrition and healthy habits our sleep is also related to BMI, that is body mass index
- Craving increases as when people are Awake late at night they tend to indulge in after-dinner snacks
- The usage of caffeine and sugar also increases to compensate for lack of sleep and energy
- Impulsive behaviors also increase.
Basically, Sleeping on time and keeping sleep a priority is the ultimate form of self-care.