You may have heard someone say the more you sleep, the less you weight. While it may seem unusual for your weight to correlate with the amount of sleep you get, there have been many studies that have proven this fact. While there are always exceptions to the rule, individuals who don’t get as much sleep are more likely to weigh more and may have trouble losing weight. Part of the reason for this is you’re more likely to participate in less healthy habits if you aren’t getting enough sleep in order to get the energy you need to get through your day. You may understand you need to make dietary changes and get more exercise if you’re ready to lose weight, but it’s also essential to work on improving your sleep if you’re going to use the HCG diet in order to lose weight.
Increased Hunger-Causing Hormones
One of the reasons it’s easier to gain weight and more difficult to lose it if you aren’t getting enough sleep is because your body will naturally produce more of the hunger-causing hormones, leptin and ghrelin. These hormones will make you feel hungrier throughout the day.
Stress Eating
Individuals who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to feel higher stress levels. For most people, this means stress eating, which is a bad when you’re trying to lose weight. You’re more likely to binge on foods, even healthy foods.
Glucose and Insulin Spikes
Even if you aren’t a diabetic, a lack of sleep can cause spikes in your glucose and insulin numbers, which greatly affects how your body handles the food you eat. Fat cells will no longer be able to use the insulin your body generates effectively and the high glucose numbers will contribute to weight gain. The more this happens, the more insulin your body will need to do its job, which is why some individuals will develop diabetes due to being overweight, which can make it even more difficult to lose weight in the future.
A Slower Metabolism
Your metabolism affects the rate at which your body burns calories. The faster your metabolism, the easier it is to lose or maintain weight so you can stay healthy and active. When you don’t get enough sleep, your body’s metabolism will naturally slow down. Studies have shown a lack of sleep can reduce your weight loss by as much as 55 percent. You are also more likely to feel hungry, even after you eat.
You Eat More
Individuals who sleep less are more likely to eat larger portion sizes and maybe even eat more often because they will feel hungrier. In addition, you will make poorer food choices. Not only will you want to grab things you can eat quickly, but your body will crave sugars and other things that won’t help you lose the weight you need to.
A Lack of Gym Time
If you’re feeling sleeping and sluggish, you’re less likely to want to head to the gym to get your much-needed workout. On the HCG diet, the first step is to lose the weight, but once you get there, you’ll need to implement a maintenance routine. Lack of sleep will result in not heading to the gym as often, making it much more difficult to keep your weight at a healthy level. This can be incredibly discouraging when you’ve worked so hard to achieve your goals.
What Can You Do?
There are several things you can do to improve your sleep so you can use your HCG diet more effectively. For instance, avoid drinking caffeine within a few hours of your bedtime so it can work out of your system. Choose a bedtime and stick to it. Waking up at the same time can also be beneficial to set your body’s internal clock. Limit external noises and don’t use electronics immediately before falling asleep. Blue light can have a negative impact on your sleep patterns. Be sure your bed is comfortable and consider exercising before bed to help your body feel tired. All of these tips can help you get the sleep you need so your body can lose weight.
