"Sleep well and stay
slim." Sad but true and backed up by a
U.S. study looking at sleep, metabolism and eating habits of 16 men and women. Researchers at the University of Colorado found that when subjects came up short on sleep, they
experienced almost immediate weight gain. As reported by the The New York
Times reports, the study, published last week in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found fast weight gain among the sleep-deprived
regardless of gender.
In
the abstract,
researchers note, "Our findings suggest that
increased food intake during insufficient sleep is a physiological adaptation
to provide energy needed to sustain additional wakefulness; yet when food is
easily accessible, intake surpasses that needed."Wright suggested part of
those extra pounds was a product of behavioral changes.
“We
found that when people weren’t getting enough sleep they overate
carbohydrates,” he said.He added that part of the change
was behavioral. Staying up late and skimping on sleep led to not only more
eating, but a shift in the type of foods a person consumed.
Night
owls managed to consume 6 per cent more calories. But once they started
sleeping more, they began eating more healthfully, consuming fewer
carbohydrates and fats.
I
think a lot of it can be caused when we are confused by our body signals. We
are sleepy or cranky or worn out so we reach for a comfort food for
a quick dose of energy. Later (feeling low energy from lack of sleep and
nutritionless carbohydrates) we skip the gym and pick up takeout for dinner--
no time to cook.
Additional
problems are explained by Michael Breus, PhD, author of Beauty Sleep and
the clinical director of the sleep division for Arrowhead Health in Glendale,
Arizona, “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.”
The two
hormones that are key in this process are ghrelin and leptin. “Ghrelin is the
‘go’ hormone that tells you when to eat, and when you are sleep-deprived, you
have more ghrelin,” Breus says. “Leptin is the hormone that tells you to stop
eating, and when you are sleep deprived, you have less leptin.” More ghrelin plus less leptin equals weight gain. “You are eating more, plus your metabolism is
slower when you are sleep-deprived,” Breus says.
Ackk so
what does all of this news have to do with our challenge for this week?
For every day you do at least 3 things to
contribute to getting a good night’s sleep you can claim your 5 points from the
Weekly Challenge. (They can be the same 3 things each day- find what works
for you) Ideas would include:
1. Clean your bedroom. Fresh linens, a
beautifully made bed, a tidy end table, a cleared off dresser top, adorned with
a favorite photo or fresh flowers- All of these help your bedroom to be a
lovely and peaceful place that invites relaxation that contributes to sleep.
2. Cut out the Caffeine- Caffeine (found in
tea, coffee, sodas and some over the counter medications) can stay in your
system as long as 14 hours, increases the number of times you awaken at night
and decreases the total amount of sleep time. This may subsequently affect
daytime anxiety and performance
3. Avoid working, eating, and discussing
emotional issues in bed (I have a rule for my hubby that nothing stressful
can be spoken of after 9:00 pm) The bed should be used for sleep and sex only.
If not, we can associate the bed with other activities and it often becomes
difficult to fall asleep.
4. Minimize noise, light, and temperature
extremes during sleep with ear plugs, window blinds, or an electric blanket
or air conditioner. Even the slightest nighttime noises or luminescent lights
can disrupt the quality of your sleep. I can’t tell you how getting blackout
curtains and shutters have increased the time I am able to stay asleep. I even
have electrical tape over the small lights on my bedside modem.
5. Try not to drink fluids after 8 p.m. This
may reduce awakenings due to urination. (This one is a huge problem for me).
6. Avoid naps, but if you do nap, make it no
more than about 25 minutes. If you have problems falling asleep, then no naps
for you.
7. Do not expose yourself to bright light if you
do need to get up at night. Use a small night-light instead. I bought a
motion activated night-light (on amazon) that turns on if I do need to walk in
the bathroom at night and it is much calmer and more subtle than switching on
the full overhead lights.
8. Avoid the light of televisions and computers
late at night. My son has been using a program that dims the light emitted from
his computer in the evening hours so as not to interfere with sleep. It’s a
free program available at http://stereopsis.com/flux/
Also your i-pad can be read with white
letters on black instead of black on white (to switch it go to preferences then
general then accessibility then choose white on black)
9. Consider some natural help aids. Certain
herbal teas can help you relax and fall asleep. Chamomile is a popular tea that
slows the nervous system and promotes relaxation. A new tea I’ve discovered is
Yogi Soothing Caramel Bedtime tea https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_21?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=yogi+soothing+caramel+bedtime+tea&sprefix=yogi+soothing+caramel%2Caps%2C168
- yum. Other liquids, such as a small
glass of warm milk, may also help. Melatonin (my favorite is Source Naturals
Melatonin 1 mg. peppermint flavored sublingual also available o amazon https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=melatonin+1+mg+peppermint&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Amelatonin+1+mg+peppermint
helps many people (though it can cause vivid and sometimes scary dreams).
Essential oils can also have great power to aid your sleep. I love Lavender
on my pillowcase, Doterra’s Serenity rubbed on the back of my neck and a
drop of Clary Sage (Also Doterra) on my tongue. ZZZZZZZZZZ!! As always
check with your health professional before trying natural remedies.
10. Take control of your worries. Most of us
lead very stressful lives. Stress, surprises, and changes can take a toll on
our sleep habits. I often find myself going over, over and over the same
worries somehow thinking if I think about it long enough, an easy solution is
going to somehow pop up. One way to decrease this endless cycle of worry before
bed is to write down your concerns in a journal and close the book on the day.
You might even want to note a specific time the following day that you will
worry about those things you have listed.
10. If you
must get up make it as quick and stress free as possible- I know some of
you are young mothers with children that you still may need to get up with
during the night. If you are getting up to change a diaper and give hugs and
reassurance make sure the diaper and wipes and anything else needed are set out
and ready. If you are getting up to nurse or give a bottle likewise have things
as ready as possible. Set your favorite cozy blanket in your favorite cozy
chair. Have diapering items set out. If you want a cup of tea while nursing
have the tea bag and cup set out and the tea pot full of water ready to switch
on. Make your night time chores as quick, easy and relaxing as possible.
11. Create a bedtime ritual. It is calming
to do the same things each night to signal your body it's time to wind
down. This might include taking a warm bath or shower, reading a book, or
listening to soothing music — preferably with the lights dimmed. Relaxing
activities can promote better sleep by easing the transition between
wakefulness and drowsiness. I have found great calming by listening to
meditation CD’s and particularly like those guided by Stin Hansen. She shares
several free ones at http://www.mythoughtcoach.com
12. Get comfortable. Sleeping clothes
should be loose and comfortable and sheets should be fresh and clean. Your
mattress and pillows should be those you find the coziest and most comfortable.
Do you need any sleeping upgrades?
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