5 Ways Sleep Can Help You Lose Weight

by Kevin Smith Author

It's ironic, isn't it? You spend so much time trying to find space in your day to get 15,000 steps in, or hopping on a treadmill, or taking spinning classes, you forget that one of the best ways to lose weight is to just lie in bed. It sounds crazy, but it's true! In addition to working out, and taking weight loss medication in Kennesaw, GA, here are some ways getting extra shut-eye will help you shed some pounds.

1. No More Late Night Snacks

It's a simple rule: you eat less when you're unconscious. If you stay up late at night watching TV, or hanging out with friends, odds are pretty good you're snacking and drinking while you're doing it. You can ingest a lot of calories late in the evening, and not even realize it. But if you're passed out on your mattress? You're calorie-free.

2. Your Body Runs More Efficiently

Whether you want to recognize it or not, your body craves sleep. And when it's properly rested, it runs like a well-oiled machine. Studies show that people with proper amounts of sleep burn 5 percent more calories when they're at rest than their sleep-deprived counterparts, and burn 20 percent more immediately after a meal. It's as if when you're asleep you're actually doing a strenuous workout - which is the way it should be.

3. You Burn Fat More Quickly

When you get the sleep you need, your body burns your fat first. Part of that "body works more efficiently" thing (see #2), a University of Chicago study showed that, given identical diets, people who got 8 and 1/2 hours of sleep burned mostly fat, while it was found that among those who only had 5 and 1/2 hours sleep, only one quarter of the calories they burned were fat.

4. Your Diet Improves

Studies show that exhausted people tend to purchase less healthy, more fattening foods, and will choose larger portions than those who get the sleep they need. Your body knows when you're not sleeping, and it is punishing you for it.

5. Better Focus

You know this is true. When you're sleepy, you don't concentrate as well, and your work suffers. The same effect is present when it comes to eating habits. When you're tired, your judgment is impaired, and you eat less healthy foods.

Everyone is always saying we should get more sleep. Now you know a lack of sleep doesn't just affect your well-being, it can have a detrimental effect on your waist line. So next time you head out to buy your weight loss medication in Kennesaw, GA, be sure to head home and take a nap.