***yawn***
blink…blink…
You know, it’s just not fair. “They” always say that if you’re exercising and eating right, you’ll sleep better. Well, “they” don’t know me. I’m wired backwards. All this healthy living has got me so jazzed…I lie there forever trying to go to sleep. I’m really tired today. I exercised anyway, of course. And I’m staying on my plan, though it’s harder when you’re tired. But get this, did you know that not getting enough sleep can hurt your weight loss - even if you stay on track?
I found this information in an article on SparkPeople
1. Hormone function affects the way fat cells respond to the food we eat. Cortisol is a hormone that is commonly released in response to physical or
emotional stress. When we are deprived of sleep, cortisol is released at an
increased level and makes us feel hungry even if we are full. As a result,
people who continue to lose sleep on a regular basis will tend to experience
hunger even when they have had an adequate amount of food.2. Sleep loss results in less deep sleep, the kind that restores our energy
levels. Losing deep sleep hours decreases growth hormone levels. Growth hormone
is a protein that helps regulate the body’s proportions of fat and muscle in
adults. With less growth hormone, we reduce the ability to lose fat and grow
muscle.3.With a loss of sleep, your body may not be able to metabolize
carbohydrates as well, which leads to an increased storage of fats and higher
levels of blood sugar. Excess blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance means that the body has trouble disposing of glucose in the
liver and other tissues. It is a trigger for serious health problems such as
obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes.4. A lack of sleep goes hand in hand with a lack of energy – not a new
concept, but perhaps you’ve grown used to your daily levels of energy and don’t
notice that you could gain more. Not only do we accomplish less with less sleep,
we also don’t burn as many calories. The body’s reaction is to hoard calories as
fat, making our weight loss goals more difficult than they need to be. Sleep is
starting to sound pretty important now, isn’t it?
Sigh. It’s just not fair. I might do more losing, if I did more snoozing! I don’t know about you, but I am going to bed earlier tonight.
Laying out my workout clothes, brushing my teeth and going to bed in 15 minutes!!! See ya tomorrow for weigh-in…
*schmoochie*
Comment by Leann — August 13, 2006 @ 10:19 pm
Oh, and it is only 9:15pm here…
Comment by Leann — August 13, 2006 @ 10:20 pm
I oughta call you just to mess you up… Ha!! But I won’t, cause I’m cool like that.
I’m going to bed soon too. Within the next 30 mins or so.
Comment by blestwithsons — August 13, 2006 @ 10:35 pm