Published on: 11/3/2015IST
Are Your Sleep Habits Affecting Your Weight?
Are Your Sleep Habits Affecting Your Weight?
Good sleep habits are the foundation to overall health. People who do not get enough can suffer from a wide range of health issues, from heart conditions to depression. But can poor sleep habits really affect a person’s weight too? The answer is absolutely! Adequate sleep is an essential part of maintaining a healthy weight and finding balance in a healthy everyday lifestyle. Those who are looking to lose weight should be especially careful of the amount of sleep they get, because too much or too little sleep can slow or even stop their progress towards reaching their goal weight.
How can you improve your sleep habits?
There are a million different excuses people have for not getting adequate sleep each night. They say that they do not have time to go to sleep earlier, or they need to have the TV on while they sleep, but there are reasonable solutions to these problems that anyone can utilize. These solutions can not onlyhelp people lose weight, but it can also help them combat other health issues they are struggling with in their lives. Here are some common sleep habits that cause weight gain and how you can fix or prevent them.
Going to bed too late
Many people simply just do not allot enough time each day for sleep. They feel that there are not enough hours in the day for them to get everything done that they need to do each day, so they sacrifice some of the sleep they need in order to make up time during the day. These people need to make sleep a top priority in their schedule. They might need to cut back on a few other obligations, but the reward they receive from a full night’s sleep with be worth it.
Feeling tired even after a full night of sleep
Many people dedicate 8 hours a night to sleep, but they still feel tired and drained each day. This can cause emotional eating and over consumption of unhealthy foods, making weight lose more difficult. These people probably have an underlying issue that is causing their lack of sleep each night, like sleep apnea. Get yourself checked for possible sleep issues and consult CPAPMan for possible treatment options to get more restful sleep each night.
Sleeping with the TV on
Technology can have a big effect on the type of sleep a person gets each night. Many people are in the habit of sleeping with the TV on, or engaging in a lot of technology use right before bed. Technology stimulates the brain and can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. Those who are trying to lose weight and get better sleep should turn off the TV and avoid using technology at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Try reading a book or a magazine instead.
Impact of Caffeine on sleep
Many people today are addicted to caffeine. It is not uncommon for a person to have 2-4 cups of coffee a day. This amount of caffeine a day can make it difficult for anyone to fall asleep at night. This creates a bad cycle, because people who lack sleep at night resort to caffeine during the day to stay alert, but more caffeine only makes it more difficult for them to sleep at night. Try to reduce your caffeine intake a little each day and instead drink more water to see a big difference in nightly sleep.
Taking regular naps instead of sleeping through the night
Naps can easily become a part of a person’s day to day life. You might take a nap one day when you are feeling a little sluggish, but taking naps on a regular basis can disrupt your sleep pattern and actually make sleeping at night more difficult. In order to get better sleep at night, you should maintain a regular sleep schedule, which includes staying awake during the day and maintaining a regular bed time and wake-up time. These little changes will help your body adapt to the new schedule and sleep more restfully at night.
11/4/2015 | | Permalink