When I start working with new client, I ask them a long list of expected questions: What do you eat? What’s your current exercise routine? Do you have any injuries?
They’re always surprised, though, when I ask them how much they sleep. Given that 99% of my clients are ambitious New Yorkers, they usually say 6 hours or less. Sleep deprivation is a HUGE (pun intended) reason why some people are overweight.
Numerous studies have shown that, usually, the less a person sleeps, the heavier they are.
Why?
1) When you’re tired, you eat more. Fatigue creates higher levels of ghrelin, an appetite-stimulating hormone, and lower levels of leptin, the hormone that tells you to stop eating when you’re full.
That’s a double-hormone whammy making it nearly impossible to keep your eating under control.
2) Sleep deprivation makes you crave sugar, since it’s quick energy. When your body is tired, it isn’t concerned about the inevitable crash sugar will cause later. It just wants energy NOW, and urges your hands to reach for the nearest chocolate bar.
3) Deep sleep is also the time when your brain secretes a hormone that encourages your body to burn fat. If you don’t sleep long enough to hit that final stage of REM, you miss out on some effective—and effortless!-- fat burning.
4) With less sleep, you have less energy. (Duh.) Therefore, you’ll be slumping in your office chair and spending your off-work hours on the couch. Sleep more, and you’ll move around more during the day. Plus, you will work harder at the gym, therefore, burning more calories.
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