Ways Sleep Can Help With Weight Loss

Sleep may be just as important for weight loss as your diet and exercise. Studies show that sleep may be what you need to focus on for weight loss. There is so much that happens during sleep to maintain a healthy physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.Sleep deprivation is associated with an increased risk of obesity. Here are some ways sleep can help with weight loss.

Heal and Repair

Sleep is when the body repairs and rebuilds muscle tissue that helps to maintain lean muscle mass. The body needs enough sleep for muscle repair. This is also when the brain clears out waste and makes room for what it needs. Deep sleep, known as REM sleep, is important for learning, memory, and mood. It is said that the first stage of sleep is when the cleaning occurs. The last stage is when resealing occurs. When you wake up before the last stage is finished can cause long-term health of the body and brain.

Balance Hormones

When you don’t get enough sleep, the body makes more of the hunger hormones gherlin and less leptin, making you feel hungry with an increased appetite. Sleep regulates these hunger hormones making it easier to control your calorie intake throughout the day. Studies have shown those that increase their sleep reduced their calorie intake by an average of 270 calories per day.

Better Food Choices

When you get enough sleep it may help you make better food choices and prevent an increase in calories that you may eat when you’re sleep deprived. Studies have shown that when people are sleep deprived they tend to have an increased appetite and a higher daily calorie intake. This increase can be caused by the hunger hormones gherlin and leptin.

Metabolism

Getting enough sleep can help prevent a decrease in your metabolism that happens when you don’t get enough sleep. Most need between 7 and 9 hours each night. Your sleep duration may affect your resting metabolic rate (RMR), which is the amount of calories your body burns at rest. It also increases your cortisol levels. Cortisol signals your body to conserve energy for when you’re awake.