Monday, October 8, 2012

Fitness Compass ? ?Sleep? Away Your Belly: Improve Health with ...

People still think that it?s ?miserable? getting a flat stomach, but honestly, it?s not so hard. All you need is consistency, a well-balanced diet, and regular exercise. Still, there might be something missing from your busy lifestyle that prevents you from achieving a lean, flat belly. Turns out, it could be your bedtime habits.

Tummy Tuck Magic from Quality Sleep

Different people have different requirements for sleep. Some need as many as ten hours and others as little as six hours. But generally, medical researchers find that the average adult needs seven to eight hours of sleep a night in order for their body and mind to refresh and renew for the next day.

At bedtime, we all go through a sequence of stages that repeat in an uneven pattern. One of these stages, called deep sleep, takes care of all the restoration and repair for our brain and body. It affects our physiological systems including metabolic functions and the immune system. A consistent lack of sleep can have a negative impact on our physical and mental health, causing problems such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, depression, and irritability.

How Exactly Can a Lack of Sleep Affect Our Waistline?

Sleeping an extra couple of hours won?t make you lose weight, but sleeping less than 5 hours can definitely deprive you of two sleeping hormones, which can cause you to munch unhealthy snacks before bed. And, the more you reach out for these snacks, the less likely you are to sleep well.

When we don?t get enough sleep, our metabolism slows down to reserve energy in our body, sending a false signal to our brain to crave food. Without enough sleep, your body will produce more of the hunger hormone gherlin, which tells the body that it needs more food. The longer you stay awake, the more high-calorie food you will crave, and research shows that people who are sleep-deprived generally take in an extra 300 calories per day. It takes just 3,500 extra calories a week to put on a pound, so watch out for that Cheerios box in the cupboard!

Here are four simple suggestions to improve your sleep habits:

1.Regular exercise helps relieve stress and muscle tension, and it?s also a great cure for mood swings.

2.Choose the right foods! Avoiding rich meals, especially close to bedtime, helps control our blood sugar levels, which affect daytime sleepiness. A nutritious diet also encourages us to choose healthy food options.

3.Plan your day better, so that you avoid eating right before bed. If you know that you will be working long hours at the office, be sure to pick up something healthy for dinner during lunchtime so that you don?t find yourself eating junk from the vending machine or take away.

4.Wind down before bedtime. A stressful day can affect our sleep. Create a relaxing environment before bed by preparing essential oils or indulging in a short foot or body massage.

Source: http://www.fitnesscompass.com.hk/health/%E2%80%9Csleep%E2%80%9D-away-your-belly-improve-health-with-quality-sleep/

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