Sleep and Weight Loss

While most of us know that it’s important for us, we often don’t realise the effect good quality sleep has on our ability to lose those few extra kilos. People are more conscious of the importance of a good healthy diet and regular exercise when it comes to weight loss than they are with ensuring good quality sleep. I’d like to share some insights into the effects of poor sleep.

When we are tired we are more likely to make poor food choices as we are looking for that quick hit of energy so we more readily reach for a chocolate bar, sugar filled energy drink or coffee. On top of this, we have a naturally occurring stress hormone called cortisol which signals our body to store and retain fat. If we’re not sleeping well our bodies will also target the quick hit, burning the easy-access sugar in our system for energy rather than burning our fat stores. As a result, our waistlines tend to get bigger instead of smaller, regardless if we are exercising or dieting. The good news is when we are in a deep, restorative sleep our cortisol level is significantly reduced. It’s the only time that cortisol drops low in our busy lives so it’s vital that we make it count.

I recommend that we start thinking of sleep as an indispensable beauty product.  Just like we invest in makeup, skin products and gym memberships, we should also be investing in our sleep. As we spend on average a third of our lives in bed, it is time people started to give consideration to their sleep and to the bed they are lying on. I get clients coming in all the time who have starved and exhausted themselves with too little food and too much exercise and yet find themselves not getting any smaller. Not one of them makes the connection between their bed, poor sleep and their weight.

With the correct balance of support and comfort, we are more able to slip into a deep undisturbed sleep where our cortisol levels can drop to that desired low level. By having a bed that is suited to your unique body shape, you will be more able to wake every morning feeling rejuvenated and refreshed without an overwhelming need for caffeine or sugar. A quality bed is the key to achieving a healthy night’s rest and perhaps a smaller dress size too.