Healthy Lifestyle - Get Some Sleep!

We’ve all experienced it. Whether it’s due to a crazy schedule or too much stress, we don’t get enough sleep these days. Yet, by short-changing yourself by not getting enough sleep – you’re doing yourself more harm than good!

All those workouts you do aren’t what build muscle – those workouts actually break down muscle. That’s right – whether you’re at the gym, running at home on your treadmill, or doing that long bike ride outside, you’re tearing things down. Where you gain muscle and improve your muscle tone is when your body rebuilds the damage. And, your body does that during your rest periods – in other words, you break things down when you’re awake, and you rebuild when you sleep.

And, it doesn’t stop there. The stress on your body keeps building up when it doesn’t get rest. In a recent sleep study, researchers at the University of California at San Diego studied 135 men. When they collected and analyzed their blood, they found that those that suffered from interrupted sleep increased clot promoting proteins, which may increase the risk of heart attack.
So, how can you make sure this doesn’t happen? Simple - get some sleep! Make sure you make sleep a priority most nights of the week. Stay on a regular schedule wherever possible – and get those 8 hours. Also keep in mind that recent studies have shown that if you’re sleep deficient, getting an extra couple of hours on the weekend won’t make up for it. (Although, it might be good for your mental health!).

And, there are a few things you can do to make your sleep deeper. First is – keep up those workouts! When your muscles are tired, you’ll sleep deeper! Also, limit the amount of carbohydrates you eat before bedtime. Eating carbohydrates late in the day causes your blood sugar levels (and insulin levels) to drop dramatically at night, causing your body to wake up to seek more food.

So, avoid morning grogginess, feel healthier - and enjoy some sleep!