how much sleep...

lisa28115

How much sleep is enough?

If you don't get enough sleep, wil that effect your weight loss?

I work 3rd shift...when i am working it is hard to get in exercise and basic household funtions and stil get 8 hrs sleep.

felice03

I don't know the answer to this, but when I worked 3rd shift it definitely had an impact on my weight. I slept a lot more and was less motivated to do anything. Now that I work"normal" hours, I don't sleep nearly enough...but much more active and motivated to do things.

PennyNickel14

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/excessive-sleepiness-10/lack-of-sleep-weight-gain

Sleep is also different from person to person. Most need 7-8 to function well. I need 8.5 LOL

mumof5

shift work is reall bad for our bodies, do you do the same shift all the time?? I hav done a lot of the graveyard and I am sooooo glad it is behind me!! if you do the same hours all the time you really need to sit down and write yrself a time table, and stuck to it. 8 hrs should be enough sleep do if yr still tired you might hav to look at your routine, you can make exercise fit in where ever you want, you've just got to really WANT to. make sure you don't get low bsl by working these hours and get yr energy from yr food. hope you can work it out

OSC_ESD

The average recommendation is anywhere from 7 to 9 hrs a night ... it depends on your body. Unfortunately lifestyles don't always allow that much time for sleep .. I average 6 to 7 hrs a night ( on good days ).

And yes ... Lack of sleep makes your metabolism slower ... as well as your overall energy. I always suggest people google the topic .. there are a lot of good sources out there with plenty of facts !

hessoftexas

Personally, I need a good 9 hours every night. I don't always get it, but I know from experience that is what works best for me. And proper rest has always had positive results for my weight loss.

I did an experiment once, years ago, after reading about sleep requirements. I went to sleep at the same time each night for a week, and allowed myself to sleep until I was no longer tired. So after several days, the magic number was 9.

Your work schedule is unfortunately a challenge. I wish you the best.

Trophyyf

Getting the proper amount of sleep is the most challenging part of working the night shift. According to a study published in 2009 by Dr. David Blask, a professor at the Tulane University School of Medicine, exposure to light at night can greatly reduce the amount of cancer-fighting melatonin that your body produces, reports the website NWJobs. He does say that third shift workers who are able to get at least eight hours of sleep in a room that is completely dark can restore the normal patterns of their bodies' circadian rhythm and melatonin production. To ensure you are getting proper sleep, keep the same sleeping patterns even on your off days. Also avoid consuming alcohol right before bed, as it will only serve to disrupt deep sleep patterns.

Working effective exercise routines into your daily schedule can be tough to do when you work the night shift. While some gyms are open 24 hours, having the motivation to work out when the rest of the world is going to bed can be challenging. To combat a lack of motivation, find an exercise partner who also works third shift to work out with you. You can then hold each other accountable and keep each other motivated toward your weight-loss goals. If a 24-hour gym isn't available where you live, try incorporating workout DVDs and outdoor jogging into your exercise regimen.

Found at
http://www.livestrong.com

Helloitsdan

At least 6 hours for porper hormones HGH etc.
Thats 2 REM cycles.

This is where you actually heal damaged muscle.
Anything less and you may as well stick with light jogging!

Trophyyf

I find this interesting because my hubs works nights sometimes and he gained the most weight when he started doing that kind of shift.

Found at: http://health.heraldtribune.com

Here’s the headline for you: Women have more trouble with this than men. It’s well known that steady night workers are more vulnerable to type 2 diabetes and obesity, but new research strongly indicates both also are true for women who work even a few rotating night shifts. That’s you. Just three nights a month ups your risk of type 2 diabetes some. Do that for 10 years, which it sounds like you have, and the risk jumps 40 percent, versus women who do little/no shift work. Women who do rotating shifts are also more likely to smoke, much more likely to get injured on the job (sleepiness does that), and are prone to stomachaches and irritable bowel syndrome.

Why? Canadian researchers suspect that because women often handle more child-care and household chores, they have a harder time with fluctuating sleep schedules.

Probably the most important goals for you (and your husband) are to get seven to eight consecutive hours of sleep each day, no matter what, and to exercise every day, even if you’re beat. Both are critical for your health, and both help keep your energy up and weight down. Yet the hardest part of shift work can be falling asleep at dawn. Some tips:

•Avoid caffeine in the second half of your shift.

•If it’s bright outside when you head home, wear dark sunglasses door to door so sunlight can’t activate your internal “wake up” clock.

•When you get home, have at most a light snack, so digestion won’t keep you awake, relax a bit (avoid electronics; they’re stimulating), then go to bed and get a good day’s sleep.

shanahan_09

I need 8-9 hours of sleep in order to keep my energy up, as well as aiding in my weight loss. Getting six hours at the present time and I'm slugging my way through each day tossing back the caffeine. FInd it difficult to turn out the light by 10 in order to be up between 6 & 7 a.m.

lisa28115

my magic sleep number is 10hrs...impossible while working:bigsmile:

just like anything else are good days and bad days
some are better than others

i am just tired today, fighting an ear infection
trying ot exercise...:indifferent: