The Importance of Sleep for Weight Loss

Losing weight is a challenge in itself, so, you should understand the importance of getting a good night’s sleep as you embark on this journey. You are already changing many aspects of your life to become your healthiest self, so don’t let bad sleep habits set you back on your goals.

How sleep affects your eating habits

Poor sleep habits have been linked to weight gain and obesity. This isn’t to say that everyone who isn’t able to get enough sleep is going to gain weight, but there is typically a correlation.

Another effect of poor sleep habits is an increased appetite. Studies have shown that sleep impacts certain hunger hormones, ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin is responsible for stimulating hunger in the brain. The levels of ghrelin are high when you are hungry and low when you are full. Leptin suppresses fullness and signals your brain that you’re full. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body produces more ghrelin and less leptin. This causes you to feel hungry.

The lack of sleep can cause your brain to function differently. It will cause dull activity in the frontal lobe of your brain, which is the part of your brain that’s in charge of all of the decisions you make. So, when you don’t get enough sleep during the night, it can cause you to have a hard time practicing self-control when it comes to eating.

How sleep affects other aspects of your life

Other than lack of sleep affecting your eating habits, it also can deter you from any physical activity. When you’re tired, you don’t have the motivation to do the daily activities that you’re used to doing. Some of these could include your daily workouts or meal planning.

How to get better sleep

Sleep is important for your body and your mind. Here are some steps you can take to make sure you get the best sleep that you possibly can.

• Don’t keep your electronics plugged in next to your bed. This causes a distraction in you falling asleep and can cause you to wake up due to notifications during the night.
• Purchase blackout curtains. These will help to keep the room as dark as possible and keep you from waking up due to any distractions outside of your window.
• Understand which position makes you sleep the best. Depending on your body, there may be positions that will make you uncomfortable during sleep, which can cause you to wake up during the night.
• Try not to have snacks right before bedtime. Depending on the food, it can disrupt your sleep or keep you from falling asleep.

Do you need help in your nutrition journey? The experts at Neat Coaching are dedicated to helping their clients become the best version of themselves. They are trained in Nutrition Coaching and Performance Coaching. If you are interested in beginning your new healthy lifestyle, contact Neat Coaching for the steps that you should take!