The less you sleep the fatter you are likely to become

Women who sleep 5 hours per night were 32% more likely to experience major weight gain (an increase of 15 kg or more) and 15% more likely to become obese over the course of a 16-year study, compared to those who sleep 7 hours a night.

When you sleep less or bad you mess up your hormonal system. It impacts some important hormones for fat loss such as insulin, androgens, thyroid-stimulating hormone, growth hormone or DHEA. For instance a sleep deficit of as little as one hour increases cortisol by 50%. Cortisol is a hormone that makes you store fat on the stomach…

What is sleeping well?

- You sleep 8 to 9 hours per night

- You sleep before 11:00 PM

- You fall asleep easily and wake up without alarm

- You never wake up during the night

- You wake up full of energy

Problem solver

If you sleep well but simply go to bed late, the solution is simple: friends calling at night can wait a day or two. You need to work late? Go to bed earlier and wake up earlier as well. Do your work in the morning while you have breakfast.

You cannot sleep? There are many causes thus many solutions. Too worried by tomorrow’s tasks? Write everything down on a piece of paper to empty your mind. Do not open your computer prior to bed: looking at a screen is like starring at the sun, it gives you a daytime signal which will wake you up. Eat low glycemic index food at your last meal. And take the right amount of magnesium chelates: solving this common deficiency often results in better sleep.

Lionel Gonnet

Fat loss specialist& Personal Trainer

www.lionelgonnet.eu