Did you know that you can’t catch up on your sleep? Would you be surprised to learn that not getting a good night’s sleep is one of the leading factors for weight gain and diseases like diabetes and heart disease? Like anything else, knowledge is powerful and it is important to educate ourselves about some of the reasons why you need to get a good night’s sleep.
If You Snooze, You Lose.
In fact, sleep deprivation can lead to obesity– that’s right –not getting enough sleep can make you gain weight! Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can cause you to consume more calories throughout the day, typically from high-fat, high-carb foods. So just by simply getting some sleep, you can heighten your ability to lose weight.
Sleep Can Enhance Your Mental State.
You may remember your college or high school days when your teacher told you not to pull an all-nighter studying for the exam because you would not retain or really understand the information. Well, that is accurate. Sleep can improve your brain’s ability to process and absorb information. If you absolutely must stay up all night to prepare for something or operate on little to no sleep, some research suggests taking a short nap can help to improve your learning.
Sleep Can Increase Your Level of Awareness.
Studies have shown that driving while operating on a lack of sleep can be compared to driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and in some cases, be just as or more dangerous.
Muscle Growth & Repair.
After a muscle-draining workout or even just a long day of work, your body must shut down, recharge, and repair. There isn’t really any other way to say this– sleep is KEY to build muscle and allow your muscles to repair themselves.
Less Likely To Become Depressed.
Studies have shown that the amount of sleep and the quality of sleep is directly linked to the way you feel throughout the day. People who do not receive optimal levels of sleep often feel lazy and even depressed, resulting in poor performance not only in the gym but in all aspects of their life.
Burn Calories.
Did you know you burn calories in your sleep? On average, a person will burn around .42 calories per pound they weigh per hour of sleep. So for example, someone weighing 175 lb. will burn around 73.5 calories each hour of sleep. When that person gets an optimal night’s rest, they could be burning close to 600 calories by simply lying in bed. These calories burned are vital in your body’s process as they maintain activities throughout the night such as pumping blood, controlling your internal temperature, and cell repair.
Help You Look and Feel Better.
Allowing your body appropriate amounts of sleep each night so it may go through the entire processes needed to recharge has a positive effect on your overall well-being. By getting a good night’s rest, you just feel better. Your back might start to ache less or you might be less prone to headaches as the day goes on. If you don’t believe me, just take a look in the mirror the next time you don’t get a good night’s rest.
Less Time Spent Being Sick.
Sleep can help strengthen your immune system and can help to fight off sickness. Studies suggest that people who get less than 7 hours of sleep per night are more likely to catch the common cold versus those who sleep at least 8 hours a night.
Lower Stress Levels.
Let’s face it, when you don’t get enough sleep you are more apt to be cranky, moody, and stressed. If stress is the thing that is keeping you from getting a good night sleep, try things like a warm bath, lavender oils, deep breathing exercises, and visualizing your entire body becoming relaxed until you fall asleep. It will be more difficult to fall asleep the more stimulated your mind is so it is a good idea to turn off electronics an hour before bed and limit things such as reading a book on your Ipad or scrolling through your FB and Twitter feed right before bed.
Maximize Output with Your Workouts.
Though it is largely disregarded, sleep is vital to functioning at optimal capacity. Along with dangerous impacts on various aspects of our health, not getting enough sleep means you will be less focused while doing your workout program, you will most likely not be able to lift as much and ultimately your weight goals will be delayed. People who work out in the mornings need a good night’s sleep to maximize their workout. Even if you work out in the afternoon or evening, if you don’t have a good night’s sleep, you may feel sluggish and not be motivated after a long day at work to head to the gym or to complete your home workout program.
