11/07/2019
UNDERSTANDING THE 3RD MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR WHEN IT COMES TO FAT LOSS AND MUSCLE GAIN THAT MIGHT BE STANDING IN THE WAY OF YOUR GOALS:
🏃🏼♀️ When it comes to losing weight, building muscle and overall health most people understand the importance of exercise and eating a well balanced diet. However, sleep is often overlooked and yet it plays a huge role in leading a healthy lifestyle. You might think you don’t need a lot of sleep or you can get by fine without it but this is not the case. Sleep is so important for recovery; repairing and rebuilding muscles, organs, immune systems and various hormones as well as storing our memories and what we’ve learned.
🐒 Evolutionarily speaking, sleep was not advantageous for us. While we slept predators or other tribes could attack us easily so if it wasn’t important we would have evolved to not need it, and yet, we still sleep. We spend a third of our lives asleep so I think it’s safe to say, it’s crucial.
⏰ In this day and age sleeps takes planning. It’s so easy to disrupt your sleep schedule with nights out or binge-watching Netflix. With so many distractions throughout the day it’s crazy to think that we just turn off the lights, close our eyes and hope for the best. 🤞🏼 Our bodies aren’t ready for sleep because they’ve been picking up signals that it’s not yet bed time.
🕯 Having a bedtime routine to help wind down is a good idea. I start mine about two hours before bed. Switching from harsh lights to lamps (or candles is best), putting on my blue-blockers 👓 and limiting screen time.
Create a routine to relax you at the end of the day and prepare you for tomorrow. Drink some chamomile tea, run a bath, read a book, have some me-time!
💤 So if you think you’re doing everything right but can’t seem to lose those last few pounds or your muscles gains have plateaued, check your sleep. Make sure you are planning for it and preparing your body for it nightly.
