How does lack of sleep and stress slow down weight loss?

rachel1496

Since my daughter started teething and I stopped sleeping I've been exhausted, irritable and incredibly stressed. The scale hasn't budged either. I know that people who are sleep deprived tend to eat more but I'm still tracking my food so I know I'm not eating more than I was previously.

So what happens in the body to stop weight loss and more importantly is there a way to get around it? Getting more sleep is not likely until these God forsaken molars come in and at the rate we're going that will be sometime next year.

ennaejay

It could be coincidence - your scale not moving, and the stress you feel.

I know that when I'm tired, even if I'm within my calories for the day, I tend to make poorer choices or "cheat" because I want comfort. I also think that when your body is in "stress" mode, it makes sense that your body might want to hold on to fat because it senses a crisis. I haven't studied this, but in times of war or famine, when there are less resources available or you're running on fumes, your body goes into a self-preserving mode.

My LO is cutting some major teeth right now too, and he always seems to get very clumsy and needy, which always adds to the general tension of the household.

Focus on taking care of yourself, if you can't get enough sleep, ask for help on the weekends so you can get a nap, or get outside to take a walk, or a bubble bath in the evenings. Take care of yourself and the weight will continue to drop when things calm down :flowerforyou:

ddecarr

The exact chemical reasons aren't fully understood yet, but it has to do with the hormones that regulate sleep, and hunger, that get out of balance. You can google it and read find lots of articles on it.

vim_n_vigor

I think it has to do with your cortisol levels and other hormones in your body being off. I don't think there is any real good way around it. Have you tried sleeping with your daughter when she has troubles at night? I would rock my boys or lay down in bed with them and they seemed to sleep better - and so did I!

lockef

Research cortisol and ghrelin.

Exercise can help.

Edit: Oh... and leptin.