If you’ve stayed up late the past few nights bingeing on your new favourite Netflix series and skipped the gym the next morning, have we got some news for you.
The decision has been made for you – skip the exercise and focus on the snooze. According to sleep expert Robert Rosernberg (author of Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day), “Studies show that when people get less than six hours – meaning they were sleep deprived – they’re more prone to athletic injuries.”
In simple terms, this means that if you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re more likely to injure yourself at the gym. Hitting the gym when you’re still glassy-eyed and half asleep can really hinder your fitness goals, and work against you in the long run.
Stay in bed the extra hour and get some decent shut eye. Not only will your body thank you, but so will your mind and emotional health.
Studies also show that sleep loss is associated with increased hunger, meaning it can be linked to an increased risk of obesity. Have a think about the last time you had a crappy sleep – how did you feel when you woke up? Probably exhausted, dazed and bit out of it. Perhaps even grumpy?
Whilst your brain and body feel that way, it’s been proven so do your fat cells. Named as “metabolic grogginess” by the University of Chicago, when your body suffers from sleep deprivation it makes you more likely to overeat and become lazier.
The researchers found that just within four days, the body’s ability to use insulin became disrupted. In fact, it was found that insulin sensitivity dropped by more than 30 percent… meaning excess insulin, more fat production. Get to sleep!
At the end of the day, both exercise and sleep are essential to a health mind, body and spirit. Make sure you're getting a solid 8 hours sleep (minimum!), you're sticking to a healthy diet and exercising for at least 30 minutes a day.
Sweet dreams, koalas.
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