It happens all the time – you are doing everything right, you have a fitness routine that involves cardio and weights at least three times a week, your diet is focused on lean proteins and vegetables, and you know which foods to avoid, but still cannot achieve the body you desire. No matter how hard you work, it feels like your body will never change and, when you look at friends who have identical or similar habits, you find that they have the body you are fighting for. What are you doing wrong?
Sleep Plays a Major Role in Weight Loss
There is no denying that your diet and exercise routine are major factors in achieving a healthy weight. That said, they are not the only important factors. Being able to reach a healthy weight is like a science and, only when you find a balance in all the critical elements can you truly reach your goals. This missing piece to the “healthy diet and active lifestyle” approach is sleep. You go to work, you exercise, you watch your diet carefully, and you live your life and socialize, but are you getting enough rest? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 35% of individuals are sleep deprived, which is nearly identical to the percentage of individuals who are considered obese.
Sleeping less than 7 or 8 hours a night can undo all of your hard efforts and, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, dieters who receive adequate rest compared to those who do not, are able to experience greater fat loss. Additionally, research also revealed that those who were sleep deprived often felt significantly hungrier and lacked the energy to exercise.
Lack of Sleep Changes Fat Cells
When you are exhausted, you likely do not feel terribly alert. In fact, you probably feel grumpy, confused, and a bit like a zombie as you go about your day no matter how much coffee you consume. If that is how your mind feels, imagine how sleep deprivation makes your body feels. In fact, researchers at the University of Chicago coined the term “metabolic grogginess” to describe what happens to your body when you regularly fail to get enough sleep. Just four days of sleep deprivation can change your body’s ability to properly use insulin.
How does this impact weight loss? If you become insulin resistant, fats circulate in your blood and pump out more insulin. This excess insulin will eventually store fat in all the wrong places, including tissues like your liver, which will not only increase your weight, but cause you to suffer from diseases, such as diabetes.
Ultimately, sleep is just as critical an element in weight loss as diet or exercise and cannot be ignored. Make getting enough rest a priority and you are more likely to obtain the results you desire.
Soza Weight Loss in Louisiana
At Soza Weight Loss, our programs are not built on unsustainable fad diets, but rather on all-natural approaches that involves a low intake of calories and nutrient dense meals, combined with natural medical supplements to boost metabolism. Take the steps necessary to achieve the body you deserve today.
Contact us to schedule a free consultation.