"Lose weight while you sleep. It sounds like something you'd hear on a late night infomercial -- just around the time you are reaching for that bag of cookies because, well, you can't sleep. But as wild as the idea sounds, substantial medical evidence suggests some fascinating links between sleep and weight. Researchers say that how much you sleep and quite possibility the quality of your sleep may silently orchestrate a symphony of hormonal activity tied to your appetite." - WebMD
What??!! Sleep affects our appetite? Getting the right amount of sleep is a very important part of good health. We all live in a very busy society. We run run run until finally it's late and we just drop onto the nearest recliner to watch TV, or the kids are finally in bed so now you can FINALLY get all that stuff done that you couldn't when they were awake...and the next thing you know it's really late and you have to get up early for a meeting at work or the kids that haven't learned what a beautiful thing it is to sleep in.....and the cycle continues.
According to USNews Health only 1/3 of Adults are getting enough sleep. So how much is enough sleep? It is different for everyone. Some people can function on 7 hours of sleep while others, (me) need more. The National Sleep Foundation has come up with this chart to tell us where to start when determining how much sleep we need.
What??!! Sleep affects our appetite? Getting the right amount of sleep is a very important part of good health. We all live in a very busy society. We run run run until finally it's late and we just drop onto the nearest recliner to watch TV, or the kids are finally in bed so now you can FINALLY get all that stuff done that you couldn't when they were awake...and the next thing you know it's really late and you have to get up early for a meeting at work or the kids that haven't learned what a beautiful thing it is to sleep in.....and the cycle continues.
According to USNews Health only 1/3 of Adults are getting enough sleep. So how much is enough sleep? It is different for everyone. Some people can function on 7 hours of sleep while others, (me) need more. The National Sleep Foundation has come up with this chart to tell us where to start when determining how much sleep we need.
Though research cannot pinpoint an exact amount of sleep need by people at different ages, the preceding table identifies the "rule-of-thumb" amounts most experts have agreed upon. Nevertheless, it's important to pay attention to your own individual needs by assessing how you feel on different amounts of sleep. Are you productive, healthy and happy on seven hours of sleep? Or does it take you nine hours of quality ZZZs to get you into high gear?' - National Sleep Foundation
This weeks challenge is to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Now I understand that many of you have young children and sometimes that is impossible because of midnight feedings or sick kids or whatever else they might throw your way. However, In order to get your points for this week you have to give it your best effort to be sleeping for 7 - 9 hours. Hey, if getting more sleep is what my body needs to shed some pounds, BRING IT ON! For me this is going to mean thinking about what time I need to be up in the morning and then counting back 7 - 9 hours to see what time I need to go to bed each night.
Each night you get (or intend to get if it weren't for those dang kids*) 7 - 9 hours of sleep give yourself 5 points for a total of 35 points at the end of the week.
*I really do love kids
This weeks challenge is to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. Now I understand that many of you have young children and sometimes that is impossible because of midnight feedings or sick kids or whatever else they might throw your way. However, In order to get your points for this week you have to give it your best effort to be sleeping for 7 - 9 hours. Hey, if getting more sleep is what my body needs to shed some pounds, BRING IT ON! For me this is going to mean thinking about what time I need to be up in the morning and then counting back 7 - 9 hours to see what time I need to go to bed each night.
Each night you get (or intend to get if it weren't for those dang kids*) 7 - 9 hours of sleep give yourself 5 points for a total of 35 points at the end of the week.
*I really do love kids