Are sleep and weight loss correlated? Absolutely! How much sleep do you usually get? Did you know that getting less sleep will give you more maintain days and slower losses?? Sleep is critical to our brains and bodies to work on a functional level. The Seven Pillars of Health book by Don Colbert, MD outlines sleep and rest in chapter two. I'm just going to go over the important parts to outline the chapter for you.

I can tell you that in my experience, ladies that work overnight shifts or have demanding job or home schedules that require less sleep have huge losses after a good nights sleep. Getting more sleep will help you to learn new physical skills. Studies have shown that sleep builds procedural memory. What you practice during the day, you will continue to learn while you sleep! Sadly, 42 million sleeping pill prescriptions were filled for Americans last year alone.

God gave us a promise of deep, restorative sleep. Psalm 127:2 says, " He grants sleep to those he loves." To those who are tired, He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

The main benefits of sleep are:

• Sleep regulates the release of important hormones.
• Sleep slows down the aging process.
• Sleep boosts the immune system.
• Sleep improves brain function.
• Sleep reduces cortisol levels.

The medical research is clear about what happens when you DON'T get enough sleep:

• You increase your risk of type 2 diabetes.
• You become clumsy and "sleep drunk."
• You jeopardize your job.
• You endanger your life and the lives of others when driving.
• You reduce your sex drive.
• You invite diseases.
• You jeopardize your marriage.

Think about this metaphor. Your cell phone can only go so long without recharging the battery. Think of your body in the same way! Many people call it the 3 O'clock slump during the workday. However, it's your body starting to run out of energy.

How do I know if I get enough sleep, you ask?! Take this quiz....if you answer yes to any of these....you are probably lacking enough rest.

• Do you need an alarm clock to wake up?
• Do you get drowsy while driving short distance or while waiting at traffic lights?
• Do you run out of steam in the middle of the day?
• Are you irritable or agitated? (ask a spouse or close friend! Ha!)
• Are you s light sleeper and wake up easily at every noise?
• Are you unable to get persistent worries out of your mind?

  I can tell you now....I failed miserably! I know I don't get enough sleep! However, after reading about this...I need to do better for myself.

  By sleeping less, you increase your chances of suffering from a heart attack, stroke, diabetes, weight gain and premature aging! Before Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb, the average American slept about TEN hours a night.

  What can you do??

  • Try to get more sleep! Track your sleep along in your journal! See if getting more sleep correlates with better losses.
  • Make a list of things for which you are thankful for, then dwell on these things before bed instead of the worries or to-do lists.
  • Make sleep a bigger priority in your life. We all know that the laundry and having a clean(ish) house are important....but at what cost? Re-evaluate your schedule. Is a TV show more important than an extra hour of sleep?

  Ask your body how it would feel to get an extra hour at night, in the morning upon waking! Your morning self....will probably disagree with your evening self! Make a goal of getting between 7-9 hours of sleep each night! I took a poll during my Thursday night group....and we all averaged 6 hours or less each night!

  Stop reading...take a nap! Just a little advice from a Grace & Strength coach! Napping is great...sleeping 7-9 hours per night is best!

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* Individual results may vary.