Sleep is super important for everyone.
As humans, we need it to recharge and repair our bodies. It’s a vital time when the body doesn’t “sleep” but prepares the body for the next day’s activities by repairing muscles and transporting nutrients to ensure they’re in the right place for daytime.
Sleep is also important for weight loss.
If your health and wellness goal is to burn fat then sleep is going to have a significant impact. Your metabolism will continue to be elevated (which means your body will burn fat) as you sleep.
Being well rested is also important for the day’s activities: especially if you’re going to be doing a workout session at the gym. You need to have enough energy and your reserves be adequately recharged in order for you to put everything into your fitness session.
What you’ll feel after sleeping well:
- You’ll be well rested
- You’ll have more energy
- You’ll think more clearly
- You’ll get things done
And, if you’re a coffee lover and always need to reach for a mug of it in the morning to get started then it will help. Being well rested will remove the feeling of grogginess and tiredness you feel when you wake up in the morning, so there’s no need to relying on coffee to fuel you through the day.
What happens if you have a bad night’s sleep?
You crave things: coffee, sugar, carbs, energy drinks. You feel tired and you want to wake up.
These morning “hits” will help jump start you, but they’re going to have a negative effect on your body. If you’re looking to lose weight then you’ll be piling on the pounds if you regularly reach for these in the morning.
That’s not something you want if you’re trying to sculpt your body shape.
What will happen is you’ll constantly reach for other sugary and refined carb foods that will make you gain weight.
If your goal isn’t to trim your wobbly bits but to build muscle then all of the same information applies. Having enough rest in the night will encourage your body to repair fully and build muscle definition: something that a personal training service near Longridge would highlight.
As long as you’re eating enough of the right nutrients and keeping adequately hydrated, the last step of having enough sleep will see your gains multiply.
How to get a better night’s sleep
Here are a few points to keep in mind if you want to get a better night’s sleep. Having a restful night is just as important as getting the right amount of sleep – laying in bed isn’t the same as actually sleeping for the same length of time.
- Go to bed by 11pm
- Avoid caffeine after 2pm
- Relax and unwind 1-2 hours before bedtime
- Eat your last meal 2-3 hours before sleeping
- Exercise early (your body will become naturally tired)
- Take a magnesium supplement
- Make things a habit
These are just a few tips to help you get a better night’s sleep because the benefits of sleeping a full night will lead to a positive effect on your health, fitness and well-being goals.
One thing that helps lots of people is to form habits that lead to things being done on autopilot instead of actually thinking about them (like not drinking caffeine after lunch).
