Sleep Away The Calories Tonight

Wow, this is so my problem!!! I don't get enough sleep! No wonder I'm getting fluffy lately! I need to start working out and eating better and getting enough sleep!!

For me, retirement has helped me get more and better quality sleep, crave food less, and feel better overall. I think work related stress caused a domino effect. Stress leads to less sleep, poorer quality sleep, more cravings. It's a vicious cycle. I have lost 14 pounds.

I always had a feeling that I would gain more weight when I was working a "graveyard" shift. I thought it might just be less activity, but when I upped my workout and still gained a little extra pudge I really started to wonder. I didn't notice eating more during those shifts, but I may well have been. It may be that our willpower fades when we are sleep deprived. I know I make better decisions when I've "slept" on an issue, and when I am well rested I seem to be able to resist temptation better. When I'm tired, I just don't seem to care.

Makes sense since when you are tired you are more likely to grab a energy drink or very sugary drinks which is higher is calories. so I AGREE with this theory

I'm not so sure whether or not sleep deprivation causes me to necessarily CRAVE fattier foods. What I do know for sure is that when I am not well rested I am usually less calm and more rushed each morning. Because of this I usually do not have the time or energy to prepare healthier meals for myself for the day. I am out the door hurriedly and pick something up on the way to work for breakfast. Since lunch isn't packed - I may head out to a fast food joint. More & more fast food places try to offer "healthier" fare - but too much of this can be hard on the old wallet! Thankfully I have been more aware of the benefits of sleep so I have not been falling back into this pattern.

I will have to said I agree and disagree with this. I will sometime over eat even if I have enough sleep. I believe it's the person's decision. I would also say that even you see food you think yo're hungry so you eat. Just keep the food out of sight to avoid over eating.

I just got diagnosed a year ago with Sleep Apnea. All the research I did on apnea pointed out that being overweight/obese or not being able to loose weight is a red flag for apnea! And that it's a vicious cycle: obesity/overweight causes apnea. Apnea causes obesity/weight gain! Searching for food during the day to fuel your exhaustion is a common effect of apnea! It also sends out cortisol surges that drive weight gain (ref: Deadly Sleep by Mack Jones, MD) Researchers call it "the silent killer" for good reason and say it's pandemic because a giant portion of the public have it and don't know that they do. So if you are truly exhausted and overweight & can't sleep through the night, GET TESTED FOR SLEEP APNEA, it could save your life!

Wow I guess I need to start sleeping more.. I don't so this is a problem...

I totally believe this. For some reason, I always feel hungrier when I didn't get a good nights rest. I also find myself eating when I'm tired just to keep myself awake.

Well I can see now why I have put on the pounds in the last few years. Now if I could only find away to keep myself from waking up after 5 hours of sleep!

I can see that. I know exactly when I am eating for energy because I am slacking in energy from not getting any sleep the night before. But I cannot help myself. I am trying to get that energy from food to keep me going. Probably another reason why America is overweight. Our schedules these days do not allow for sleep. People are working two jobs because of the economy, or everyone in the house is working one or two jobs and sleep goes by the wayside.

No wonder I'm a little on the fluffy side, I haven't slept a good night since before my teenage years. Back then I was skinny.

Wow. Who would have thought getting enough sleep can help with weight loss. Something to think about the next time I feel like I'm eating more that usual.