You've adopted the perfect diet, hit the gym regularly, and cut out those midnight snack attacks. Yet, something is stalling you from achieving your fitness goals, and it's probably the last thing you'd suspect: sleep – or the lack thereof!
FITNESS GOALS DON'T WANT TO BE STALKED AND DEMORALIZED BY A LACK OF SLEEP
Gains and Drains: Do you think your muscles grow in the gym? Think again. Most muscle recovery and growth happen during sleep. When you cut short your rest, you're actually compromising your gains1.
Hunger Games: Not catching enough Z's can cause an imbalance in hunger-regulating hormones, like ghrelin and leptin, making you hungrier and more prone to unhealthy snacking2.
Mental Fortitude: Lack of sleep doesn't just make you groggy; it affects your willpower. Sleep-deprived individuals often struggle to maintain dietary and exercise discipline3.
Stress Out: Limited sleep increases cortisol levels – the infamous stress hormone – which adds to belly fat and can hamper post-exercise recovery4.
Conclusion: You might be focusing on every calorie and every rep, but if you're neglecting the quality of your slumber, you're overlooking a fitness game-changer. Sleep might be the missing link in your optimal health and fitness journey. It's time to hit the pillow!
REFERENCES
Dattilo, M., Antunes, H. K., Medeiros, A., Mônico Neto, M., Souza, H. S., Tufik, S., & de Mello, M. T. (2011). Sleep and muscle recovery: Endocrinological and molecular basis for a new and promising hypothesis. ↩
Spiegel, K., Tasali, E., Penev, P., & Van Cauter, E. (2004). Brief communication: Sleep curtailment in healthy young men is associated with decreased leptin levels, elevated ghrelin levels, and increased hunger and appetite. ↩
Gupta, A., & Silman, A. J. (2004). Psychological stress and fibromyalgia: a review of the evidence suggesting a neuroendocrine link. ↩
Leproult, R., & Van Cauter, E. (2011). Effect of 1 week of sleep restriction on testosterone levels in young healthy men. ↩
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