Sleep is very important to weight loss.
Do you feel rested? Do you feel like there is an issue with your sleep? Do you wake up feeling ready for the day and ready to conquer it, or are you dragging and ready to go to bed again? That makes a difference.
While rare, some individuals can sleep less and be ok. If you can get into REM sleep quickly, you don’t need much of it to sleep. Conversely, you can sleep 8 hours, not get enough REM, and have more difficulty losing weight.
The other thing to consider is you may have sleep apnea, which will keep you from sleeping. You’ll want to get a sleep study; most insurance will cover it. A lot of tests can even happen at home. Upon getting your results, your doctor can help you get a CPAP machine. They may alternatively recommend surgery, implantable devices, a retainer, etc.
If you don’t have sleep apnea, there are other things you can do to help you improve your sleep.
- Get sunlight in your eyes early in the morning. Go on a walk! This sunlight can help your cortisol to go up. Then, at night, your cortisol drops, and your melatonin increases.
- You can use supplements such as melatonin, magnesium, certain amino acids, and CBD.
Learn more about how to sleep better, lose weight, and live longer.
