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The “Shut-Eye” Problem

When your busy life has you constantly on the go, it can be easy to develop the habit of burning the candle at both ends.  But sacrificing your nightly rest so you have more time to squeeze things into your day is not the right solution!  What you may not know is, getting too few zzz’s doesn’t just make you tired and cranky, it can also make you gain weight!

Here’s why: Some studies have shown that losing sleep could affect metabolism by making you feel hungry, even when you’re not.  Sleep deprivation has been shown to affect the secretion of cortisol, one of the body’s hormones in charge of regulating your appetite.

Lack of sleep can also affect you mentally, not just physically.  Sleep deprivation can make you feel confused, angry, and even depressed.  Chances are, you’re less likely to feel motivated to get in that important workout if you’re experiencing any of those symptoms.  Without a doubt, getting enough sleep is crucial if you’re trying to lose weight and stay fit.

Make sleep a priority by giving yourself the gift of about 8 hours per night. Try to remember that sleep is cumulative; if you lose sleep one day, you’re guaranteed to feel it the next. If you miss adequate sleep several days in a row, you build up something called a ‘sleep deficit’.  Your body expects you to pay that back! A great way to catch up is by indulging in an old fashioned afternoon power nap. Experts advise to keep the nap between 15 and 30 minutes, since sleeping longer gets you into deeper stages of sleep, which are harder to awaken from. Also, longer naps can make it more difficult to fall asleep at night, especially if your sleep deficit is relatively small.

Long story short, do yourself a favour and go to bed!

Today’s Workout:

  • 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Burpees
  • 200 M run (in between burpee sets)

The workout is from CrossFit Vancouver!

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