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Sleep Like a Baby for a Trimmer Waist

Our parents nagged us about it, we nag ourselves about it, and yet
we struggle every day to get in a full eight hours of uninterrupted
sleep. Now there's evidence to show that those good nocturnal
habits may be just what you need to help trim your waist.

There is substantial medical evidence to suggest some fascinating
links between sleep and weight. Researchers say that the quantity
and quality of your sleep may regulate the hormonal activity that
is tied to your appetite.

We don't know the whole story yet, but most experts agree that if
you're dieting, logging a few extra hours of sleep a week is not a
bad idea. If you get six hours of sleep or less a night, you may
discover that your hunger or cravings for sugary, calorie-dense
foods may wane once you start to log eight hours of uninterrupted
sleep a night.

So how can you sleep like a baby?

- Avoid napping during the day.

- Limit or omit the use of alcohol, caffeine and nicotine,
especially in the late afternoon and evening hours.

- Avoid exercising within three hours of bedtime.

- Avoid activities that stimulate the brain right before bedtime.

- Make your bed a haven for sleeping. Try relaxing colors, dim
lights and comfortable sheets and pillows.

- Eat a healthy diet that includes fresh fruit, vegetables and
whole grains.

- Make bedtime a routine so your mind and body know when it's time
to sleep.

By practicing habits that will help you sleep through the night,
you can have hormone levels that can help with weight loss. It's up
to you, and not your mom, to set your bedtime for at least eight
hours before you need to wake.

Sleep Tight,
Megan Porter, RD

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