Want to lose weight? Follow this sleep cycle

Dhwani Vora | Apr 15, 2019, 17:51 IST
A lot of people are in this constant competition with the growing trends to look a certain way and feel a certain way. Many of us want to look slim and trim rather than looking fit and fine. And this makes people take steps that are either extreme or unhealthy just to see their dream come true. But what's the even point if it doesn't last long? What's the point if you're not feeling healthy enough? There's always a way to do things and there might be a lot of options over the Internet for the same. But it's always on your smart choices what you pick, whether it's the right thing or the wrong thing for you to follow.

Apart from the extreme diet plans and workout routines, there's one simple thing that can fix your weight loss goal. And that is simply by following a sleep cycle. Don't believe us but believe what the study says. A study in the US says that about 30% people sleep less than six hours a day. And what does sleeping less do to your body? It affects your brain's power to think clearly. A study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion says that people who constantly follow a proper sleep routine have lower percentage of body fat than the ones who sleep irregularly. The study also says that if you skip on your sleep, it increases the production of ghrelin which is a hormone that controls food cravings and also reduces the amount of leptin that prevents over-eating. Researchers say that sleep basically controls your physical activity, metabolism and appetite.

Weight loss is a lot depended on sleep. When you sleep, your brain is all the more active than the usual and it needs fuel of thoughts. Hence, the body makes use of glucose to help the brain do its work. Which in turn makes you burn more calories while sleeping, i.e. by literally just lying in bed.

How should you have a better sleep cycle? You can opt for a 25-30 minutes nap in the middle of the day. You shoudl work out in the morning instead of the night. Practicing yoga before you sleep, stretching and breathing exercises will also help you sleep much better.

To conclude, your sleep cycle should range from 7 to 10 hours a day, which helps your body gets its much needed rest. So if you want to shed those extra kilos, all you got to do is, sleep!

Copyright © 2021 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.
All rights reserved.