So I read an article on WebMD today that says that not getting enugh sleep can effect your weight-loss. Interesting concept, though I tend to think of it in terms of the whole "catch phrase" discussion we were having. It would be so easy for me to blame my weight gain on not sleeping enough!
Anyways, according to this article, if you don't get enough sleep (or a good quality sleep), it can make you feel hungrier throughout the day. So I guess my question is: do any of you notice that when you have a bad night's sleep that you eat more or you're more hungry? What do you think about the whole sleep being connected to weight thing in general?
I think that the less sleep that I get, the worse my brain functions, and this leads to poor decisions. Sometimes I justify poor food choices because of my lack of sleep: "Well, I only got three hours of sleep last night, so I deserve these fries." It really doesn't make sense, but to my sleep-deprived brain it does. The same goes for exercise. The "I'm too tired" excuse comes up. For me, an adequate amount of sleep really is essential to my weight-loss efforts.
I absolutely feel it if I don't get enough sleep. It hits me several ways health-wise. Besides feeling hungrier, I have less willpower when I'm tired to stop myself from snacking. I crave salty and sweet "junky" things when I'm tired, and 'comfort' food (which does not include salad, skinless chicken breast, or many other foods on my 'clean foods' list) in large quantities. I also am less likely to work out because I'm so tired.
Note to self: Get enough sleep. Do not drink on work nights. At this very minute I'm sitting at my desk, glazed-over expression, because I only got about 6 hours of sleep last night after I drank 3 rum & diet cokes. I'm also debating on whether I should go to the gym or not. Baaad Megan.
If you're reducing the calories you're taking in, plus exercising more, you are going to feel a lack of energy. Adequate sleep will definitely help. It's a good incentive to get to bed early, which helps during my dangerous-most-likely-to-binge time at night. When it gets late, I realize there's nothing on tv, nothing to do, and if I stay up, all I'm going to do is eat even though I'm not hungry so I'd might as well go to sleep. (I still go out and do stuff with friends; I just realized that sounded like all I do is stay in my house, exercise and sleep). Seriously though, eating and sleeping are the ways to really replenish your body.
I agree with the lack of willpower outcome. Justifying bad choices is SO much easier when I haven't slept well. This past week and a half has been pretty tough because I've gotten such poor quality sleep with my sinus infection... Definitely off the wagon. The past two days have been better though, since I've gotten antibiotics and can now sleep through the night... A huge difference.
Interesting concept. I am bipolar and sleep is a big issue for me.
Regarding weight loss, other than the obvious answers like making poor choices when tired and binging, and being up more hours to have time to eat in, I want to make another observation: When I get up during the week and any day I have less hours my weight is HIGHER than on Saturday and SUnday when I sleep in and get the required number of hours for me (9). If I have insommia on Saturday, it is HIGHER.
I agree with lack of willpower, poor choices, and feeling more hungy.
And this is coming from someone who is sleep deprived this week, and who just ate a ton of cereal straight from the box, a peanut butter sandwich and a piece of cheese, at 10:30 at night. And I acted similarly yesterday.
It was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (in Nov. 2004, I believe was the issue) that research has indicated that sleep duration has a major impact on the hormone leptin - the shorter the duration of sleep, the lower the levels of leptin, which can cause the body to crave more food. Sleep deprivation also increases levels of ghrelin, which is a hormone that triggers hunger.
There is a lot of research information out there on this. Just google ghrelin, leptin, sleep deprivation and weight (or any combo you wish) and you will find plenty more information.
I guess I'm in the minority that doesn't seem to experience a difference depending on amount of sleep. I generally get 6 hours of sleep a night and can never sleep more than 8. Sometimes I do get tired during the day but will pick up a sugar free energy drink (current fav- Tab energry) rather than sugary snacks/goodies. My workouts are generally the same and I don't notice myself eating any more when I get less sleep.
I am someone who always needs a lot of sleep. When I am sleep depraved I tend to drink a lot of caffeine which makes me hyper and cause a loss of appetite.
Sleep and Weight
