Sleep plays an important role in weight management. The average person should be getting 7.5 hrs of sleep per night; however, the average person does not get that much. As a result, we become sleep deprived and see our waist line expanding.
A few things happen when we are sleep deprived that cause us to gain weight. First, sleep-deprived people tend to grab sugary or salty snacks in the afternoon in order to stay awake. Have you ever checked out the line at Starbucks at 2:00 in the afternoon? Secondly, sleep-deprived people tend to eat more throughout the day.
When you are sleep deprived, the hormone Ghrelin increases. This is the hormone that tells you when to eat. Also, the hormone Leptin decreases. This is the hormone that tells you to stop eating. What does that mean? It means your body is telling you that you need to eat more foods even when it really does not need the fuel.
A few tips on getting a better night's sleep are to avoid caffeine in the afternoons, eat smaller suppers (the bulk of your food should be eaten by lunch), and avoid heavy, rich foods at night.
Now, go get a good night's sleep.
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