Why Getting A Good Night

If youre trying to slim down or maintain your weight, the problem may not be your calorie counting or your workouts. It could be your sleep. Studies show that there are many links between snoozing poorly over a significant period of time and the ability to lose weight.

Heres why:

How Sleep Can Impact Your Weight Loss Goal

Over time, lack of sleep can change how your body processes blood sugar and regulates the hormones that control hunger and appetite, .......Some research reveals that making a habit of sleeping for an average of six hours or less increases your risk of weight gain and, if this sleep deprivation is chronic, can be one of the reasons you become obese.. And another study shows losing just a couple of hours of sleep a few nights in a row can lead to almost immediate weight gain.

During the night, you get a natural increase in the hormone leptin, which keeps you from getting hungry. Staying up keeps this leptin level from rising, which leads to late night cravings.

Sleep deprivation can keep your brain from making good decisions, especially late at night. This can lead to unhealthy food or exercise choices that you wouldnt make if you were well rested,.

The genes that regulate all of your bodys rhythms also play an important role in metabolism and energy storage. Because lack of sleep can disrupt these rhythms, the result can be an increase in storing energy as fat and not using it.

On the other hand, sleeping well can help your body regulate metabolism, regulate food cravings, and make better decisions about what and when to eat,.

Bottomline: If youve set a goal to lose weight, its probably a good idea to set a goal to get the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, too.