Sleep - hunger - weight gain? Yes they are all related.
"Jackie" is a common new patient I get. Over that last years she continues to gain weight and nothing she tries (i.e. fad diets) have helped. She used to be an athlete in university and in good shape but now she works and is a mom and can't seem to get back to her healthy shape.
There are lots of reasons for weight gain but one of the first places I start is on sleep. What is good sleep? Going to bed most nights at the same time and getting enough sleep that you DO NOT need an alarm clock to wake up when you need to wake up. This seemed unheard of to Jackie. Without an alarm clock, she would never wake up on time.
Doesn't it seem logical that if you are waking with an alarm clock you are NOT getting all the sleep that your body needs to regenerate and repair?
Yes you are busy and have lots of responsibilities, but you have to find a way to put yourself first and give your body the tools to keep you healthy and energized.
Sleep deprivation can cause unhealthy food cravings and eating when you are not really hungry. I'll go into this in more detail in a later post.
How do you get some time back in your day? Here are a few ideas:
Eliminate TV and social media for a few weeks. These are time vampires and often add nothing to your enjoyment of life. Instead go for a walk, play with your children, call a friend, read a book or anything else that is you living life, not watching others on a screen live life.
Set the alarm on your phone to get ready for bed. If your goal is to be in bed by 10 pm, then set your alarm for 9 pm as a reminder that it is time to start winding down for the evening.
Save some time by turning one meal into two. Make extra food at dinner and use the left overs for breakfast or lunch the next day.
How much sleep do you need? Everyone is different, most people need around 8 hours. Very few can do well on less. If you are still needing an alarm clock, go to bed 15 minutes earlier the next night and keep doing this until you find your optimal amount of sleep.
And what about weight loss? It is very difficult to drop weight if you are fatigued. I'll explain this more as we go along.
Your homework today is move towards getting the right amount of sleep for your body.
Stay healthy,
Doctor Pamela