Can you lose weight with a good night’s sleep
Consider two people, having the same amount of work to do each day, doing the same amount of exercise, and having identical meal plans as well. However, one gets around 7-8 hours of good sleep each night, whereas the other does not.
Is there a difference between their lifestyle? The answer: A huge difference.
It may not seem like it, but sleep is one of the most important factors, if not the most important, that keeps people healthy and fit throughout their lives. This claim has been backed up by various researchers and health institutions. Recently, an article in the Washington Post also mentioned the side effects of sleep deprivation, which includes depression, decreased testosterone levels and more importantly, weight gain and decreased muscle strength.
Think about it: If you are sleepy at work, you may be tempted to get a cup of coffee to stay awake or get a doughnut. After work you may skip the gym and instead pick up takeout on your way home because you are too tired to cook.
Sleep helps our body in various ways, one of which includes the recovery of the muscle tissues. During workouts, our muscles tend to tear or become injured, and they need time to recover. A good amount of sleep can help you achieve that. If you do not get enough sleep, your muscle may never recover, and things only get worse from there, i.e. instead of building core muscles with your workouts, you tend to lose it all gradually.
“It’s not so much that if you sleep, you will lose weight, but if you are sleep-deprived, meaning that you are not getting enough minutes of sleep or good quality sleep, your metabolism will not function properly,” explains Michael Breus, PhD, author of Beauty Sleep and the clinical director of the sleep division for Arrowhead Health in Glendale, Ariz.”
On average we need about 7.5 hours of sleep. If you normally sleep 5 hours, those 2 extra hours can help you to lose weight. If you already sleep 7 hours than those .5 hours will not help you lose weight but your metabolism will be better.
Johanna Oosterwijk ND