If you ever listened to your mum all those years ago, you’ll know that you can’t beat a good night’s sleep for improving your wellness. Not only does getting enough sleep give your brain, skin and energy levels a boost, but it in fact puts your wellbeing at less risk of having a car accident, developing certain chronic diseases, becoming depressed and reducing your ability to learn and pay attention. Among all of these things, your weight loss goals can go right off track with sleep deprivation, and an early night is one way to ensure you get enough sleep so your hormones, appetite and energy levels stay in check.
The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep every night, as chronically depriving yourself of sleep may affect the way your body metabolises food, which in turn makes you hungrier by disrupting your hormone levels and leaves you too tired to be active the next day. If you can’t change the time you wake up, which, let’s face it, few of us can, try going to bed an hour or two earlier. It may be challenging to change your cycle at first, so maximise on your resting potential by creating a positive sleeping environment by dimming the lights in your bedroom and removing technological distractions such as computers, televisions and phones. Also, don’t drink caffeine from midday, and wind down before bed with deep breathing exercises and a warm bath.
You should be utilising exercise to lose weight, but little sleep will make the challenge near-impossible. An early night allows for an early morning exercise session, as well as providing you with the extra energy you need to actually work out and lose weight. Early morning workouts are wise, because leaving it later might mean running into scheduling conflicts or making excuses to skip it altogether. Finally, your sneaky late-night snacking stops when you go to bed early, as you’re busy sleeping, and you may skip the extra glass of wine or beer that can add calories to your diet and lower your inhibitions when it comes to food choices.
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