Sleeping right is one of the easiest ways to lose weight. You will not drop a lot pounds in a matter of a few weeks. However, overtime, a good sleeping regime can help you lose weight or maintain your current weight.
Poor sleep can contribute to weight gain. If you sleep correctly, sleep helps you to not gain weight more so than it helps you lose weight.
No energy, No weight loss
Sleep helps energize you. When you lack sleep, you lack energy. Therefore, your body's metabolism is slowed, and you do not have the energy to do a proper exercise. If you do not exercise, low energy can still be a problem. You will not be as physical active as you are normal. For example, if you take the stairs instead of the elevator, a low energy level can cause you to opt for the elevator or if you do go up the stairs, you will not be bouncing up them.
Low energy results in less calories being burned. The key to weight loss is to burn more calories than you consume. If you pair the decrease in burning calories with the increase in the chances of you overeating, you will gain weight due to lack of sleeping.
How are your hormone levels and sleep connected?
The hormones, leptin and ghrelin control your feelings of hunger and fullness. Your gastrointestinal tract produces ghrelin to stimulate your appetite. Your fat cells produce leptin as a way to signal to your brain that you are full. When your sleep is interrupted or you do not get enough sleep, your leptin levels are decreased. That means you do not feel full once you have eaten a meal. This can cause you to overeat to get that same sense of satisfaction you would get on full night's sleep.
Sleep helps to decrease ghrelin. The lack of sleep can result in an increase in appetite and a decrease in feeling full. Therefore, you are more likely to gain weight due to overeating. You can control these hormones by making sure you get at least eight hours of sleep. An increase in ghrelin causes people to crave carbohydrates. So not only do you overeat, you overeat the wrong foods.
What does your body do during sleep?
Besides decreasing ghrelin and increasing leptin, your body works to build muscles and repair and rejuvenate tissues while you are sleeping. Muscles are a critical part of your metabolism. There is a positive correlation between your metabolism and the amount of muscles you have. In other words, more muscles equal a higher metabolism.
If you do not get enough sleep, your body will not be able to build muscles. Thus, your metabolism will slow down. That means less calories will be burned, and you can potentially gain weight.
Reducing your body's water weight
Sleep helps change the amount of water in your body. When you sleep you undergo respiration and transpiration, two processes that help you lose water weight. Respiration during sleep can help you lose weight, because when you exhale, your body loses a little water. Transpiration expels water through the skin. This happens when your body sweats. It also helps your body eliminate water. This elimination of water weight does help you maintain your weight. It does not shed the pounds like diet and exercise would.
Can Sleep Help You Lose Weight?
Overall, sleep is a necessary tool to help you lose weight. Sleep provides you with the energy you need to stay on a healthy diet and to exercise. Does the activity of sleep itself help you lose weight? Not exactly, but it is a vital step for boosting your metabolism and stopping your body's hormones from making you overeat.
The quality of your sleep can also make a difference. If you are having restless sleep, it can affect your body's hormones as well. If you have problems getting good night's sleep, it is best to consult your doctor. Quality sleep combined with a good diet can help you lose weight. It will take a while to see results, but it is possible to lose weight while you sleep. However, the main purpose for sleep is to help you from gaining weight and not losing it.