Sleep: Why It Adds Up to the Fitness Equation

 

Do you often find yourself neglecting sleep, staying up late to try and get everything done, trying to spend more time with loved ones, or stressing over the things on the agenda for the next day? Did you know that sleep actually lets your mind, body, and soul rest, recuperate, and heal?! It normalizes body functions, and one of them is your metabolism. The less sleep you get, the more weight you'll gain, and this is just one of the effects of sleep deprivation. This is the silent sabotage on your weight loss goals- you follow a healthy diet and exercise religiously, but still can't keep off the extra weight? Here are reasons why sleep completes the equation.

 

Lack of sleep causes a dip to your energy levels.

How can you commit to a heart pumping workout when you don't have energy for it? If you went to bed late or had a restless night, do you think you'd be able to rise early and hit the gym?

Let's say you were able to go to the gym, but can you perform and function well? Also, this forces your body to go into survival mode, wherein you'll burn less, as your body tries to conserve energy by slowing down your metabolism, and makes you crave for high fat and high carb foods. That's hitting two birds with one stone, but not in a good way.

Lack of sleep makes your hunger a monster.

As we have discussed, when we lack sleep, our body goes haywire, so it follows that our hormones are messed up too! There are two hormones that control satiety and appetite- Grehlin triggers hunger, which stimulates appetite and cravings for fatty and sugary foods; and Leptin which suppresses hunger, which stops our cravings and decreases food intake. When we are sleep deprived, our body releases more Grehlin, and as you know it, wreaks havoc to our body and eventually our health.

Lack of sleep leaves you stressed and depressed.

A stressed person releases more of the Grehlin hormone, it is the natural reaction of the body as defense. When our energy levels get low due to sleeplessness, everything slows down and the body goes to full appetite mode that signals your brain that it needs more fuel- which is, you guessed it right- food! Also, a person who constantly lacks shut eye, or have poor quality of sleep, in the long run, may show symptoms of depression. And lets admit it, when you are depressed, physical activities are the last thing on your mind. You simply will not feel any motivation, as a matter of fact, getting up in the morning may be the hardest thing to do. 

Sleep allows your body to rest, recuperate, and recover. It restores, revives, and revitalize your body, mind, and soul. Overall health isn't just about dieting and exercising. We have learned that sleep plays a vital role, and completes the equation in achieving a fit and healthy body and lifestyle. 

REMEMBER:

AND DO IT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

 

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