Just want to share with you, which I'm sure you've all heard, that not getting enough sleep can hinder your weightloss efforts. I just got a notice on my Epocriates app in my Ipod about the study. (I get medical research updates randomly)
Anyway I know that when my kids go to bed at 8p I want soooo bad to stay up til like 10pm (and I used to) just scmhoeing around and stuff, but now I get myself to bed right around now. I do get up around 4:30 - 5am...That's a hair over 8 hours. Of course, I don't get the same quality sleep I used to before I had kids, but its better than running on 5-6 hours like I used to.
I will stay up late every now and again, but just like eating healthy and exercising have taken work and discapline (that looks like its spelled wrong) so has going to bed on time. But I reason if I can get the sleep and I only have to sacrific extra 3FC time or TV watching, then I will.
So, I guess on that note, I'm going to head to bed. Hope you all get a good night's sleep tonight!!
Thanks for posting this. I have heard about sleep and its effects on depression, overall health, stress and now weight. I find it very interesting. I find I need my 8 hrs of sleep. Thank you.
It may seem a bit strange, but I've been fighting the urge to sleep to early. I don't like my days to consist of waking up, work, gym, bed, but that's what they become if I go to bed in time to get 8 hours of sleep. It's tough balancing the, "But I'm still young! I need to live!" feeling with the, "I want to be healthy and effective of work and life" feeling.
I had read an article maybe last year about the effects of lack of sleep.
I'm paraphrasing here, because it's been a while, but basically it stated that the majority of people (because there are a few people out there who can run on like 4-5 hrs of sleep) who consistently get less than 7 hours of sleep a night, are so sleep deprived that their brains and bodies functioned as if they had been drinking. Reaction times are cut down, thought processes are slowed, etc. And we just don't realize it because it's basically normal for us now.
I do make an effort to get at least 7. But sometimes I'm on here... way past my bedtime!
Right before I started this time back in May, I had a sleep study and found out I had really really bad sleep apnea. I could sleep 14+ hours a day if I had the time, but the quality of the sleep was awful. Since it's been effectively treated and sleep a perfect 7-8 hours per night, my house is no longer cluttered, I have a good budget, I'm eating right and fully satisfied by it (have lost almost 80 lbs), I'm exercising, and in general feel about 1000% better.
My sleep is a non-negotiable for me now. I don't care WHAT is going on, I get my sleep because I have experienced in a very stark way that EVERYTHING comes down to it.
SLLEEEEEPPPPP!!!!!!!
Edit: Today was my weigh-in day, so I am amending "almost 80 lbs" to 82 lbs!
I would really like to be able to sleep longer, I am tired and want to sleep more, and have the time usually. But middle of night insomnia is deadly to me, and no real treatment. I can get to sleep, but don't stay asleep too long.
I have tried many treatments, to no avail. I mostly like being in early menopause, but this is one symptom I could do without.
I have had sleep studies, and have treated the sleep apnea, but I just don't sleep more that 5-6 hours in a row, even tho I am tired and want more.
maybe someday.
My baby never slept until around 6 months (still wakes 1-2x a night), and despite all the diet & exercise, the lb's never shifted until he started letting me sleep more than 3 hours a night!
Lack of sleep also leads to poor decision making and lack of intensity for exercise
Good to see some of you are good sleepers! And someone brought up sleep apnea, that's such a good point! 8 hours of sleep for one person is not the same for the next if the quality is no good. And unfortunately, as we age our quality of sleep decreases. Booo.
But its important to treat sleep issues, if you can. And if you are getting about 8 hours a night (although everyone is different, some people do need more and some are adequately rested on less) but if after 8 hours you are still super tired, its a good idea to let your doc know, because sleep apnea will make your sleep very poor.
Fatmad, I know you probably tried this, but I'll ask anyway. When you get up in the middle of the night, have you tried taking melatonin?
lol, kids make it hard to get sleep! That's why I go to bed around 8pm. I have a 8 month old and a 3 1/2 year old. My 8 month old sleeps through the night, but my 3 years old has ASD and is up randomly. Last night he was up at 11:30pm. But I was able to get him back to bed by like midnight. I anticipate being up at night, and if my 3 year old has a good night and doesn't get up, I get a FULL night's sleep (omg!) and if he gets up, then at least I'm not completely dead the next day, unless he has a really bad night where he's up for hours. I think when he's a teenager, I'm going to randomly wake him at night, hehe.
Make sure to get those Zzzzz's people!
or TV watching, then I will.
But sometimes I'm on here... way past my bedtime! 
