If I sleep less, can I eat more?

Sometimes I only get 5 to 6 hours of sleep because of the things I have to get done. On these days I eat healthy but I end up eating more than my usual calorie intake of 1200 to 1500. Is it okay to eat more if I stay up late as I am burning more calories? What do you think?
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Replies

  • RobynLB
    RobynLB Posts: 617 Member
    Sleeping too little makes your body hate you. I wouldn't eat more. Any increased calorie burn from being awake for two extra hours is probably offset by all the hate your body is feeling.
  • mgobluetx12
    mgobluetx12 Posts: 1,326 Member
    Are you working out during these hours you're not sleeping? If the answer is yes, then you can eat more.
  • lovelyMYlovely
    lovelyMYlovely Posts: 1,066 Member
    sleeping makes u lose weight.. so actually no...... u need to sleep more i think.... and if u are up longer than I think that can make u fatter... but ur sooo tiny in ur picture i am sure it wont make a difference :)

    by the way u look like a model...:)
  • vanguardfitness
    vanguardfitness Posts: 720 Member
    No it is not. Sleeping less really screws up with hunger and appetite behavior. Trust me on this one
  • Danni3ll3
    Danni3ll3 Posts: 365 Member
    No it is not. Sleeping less really screws up with hunger and appetite behavior. Trust me on this one

    I agree with this. There are a number of studies out there that say that people who get enough sleep per night tend to be lighter than those who don't. It has something to do hormones influencing appetite.

    Here is a link to WebMD for those who are interested in reading about it:

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/lose-weight-while-sleeping
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    I think you are probably right
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    No it is not. Sleeping less really screws up with hunger and appetite behavior. Trust me on this one

    ^^this. Plus it can slow down weight loss.
  • anemoneprose
    anemoneprose Posts: 1,805 Member
    Change what you can about your schedule so you can sleep more/better, it affects everything.

    Re eating when you haven't slept - depends what's more important, reasonable functioning or weight loss. Carbs can help you feel and think a bit better when you're struggling (ie underslept)/sick (but you have to eat more to feel full).

    edit: you should probably eat more than 1200 anyway, if you're not extremely short, totally sedentary, and/or quite advanced in years.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    No it is not. Sleeping less really screws up with hunger and appetite behavior. Trust me on this one

    ^^this. Plus it can slow down weight loss.

    If we are counting calories I doubt this is true
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    No it is not. Sleeping less really screws up with hunger and appetite behavior. Trust me on this one

    ^^this. Plus it can slow down weight loss.

    If we are counting calories I doubt this is true

    What is the other side of the energy equation?
  • kdeaux1959
    kdeaux1959 Posts: 2,675 Member
    Studies show that lack of sleep actually causes weight gain... probably partially because they eat more and possibly due to another study that suggests that a 12 hour period without eating helps burn fat (has to do with using up glycogen stores which is a more efficient source of energy before resorting to stored fat for energy) No, if anything it will cause you to need to have less intake... Best wishes on your journey. If you simply must stay up later, try lower calorie snacks but stay within your goals.
  • mariagabriella
    mariagabriella Posts: 267 Member
    if you don't get much sleep you won't have much energy... if you don't have much energy you will more than likely try and get more energy from food (been there, done that). get some sleep.
  • First of all, the whole concept of 'everyone needs 8 hours of sleep' is a myth. Everyone's body is different. Some people function perfectly well on 5-6 hours of sleep. Does this give one the right to eat more? No, of course not. Depriving oneself of sleep and sleeping less than the 'average' and being fine are two different things. If you feel tired all the time, sleep more. If not, continue about your life.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    No it is not. Sleeping less really screws up with hunger and appetite behavior. Trust me on this one

    ^^this. Plus it can slow down weight loss.

    If we are counting calories I doubt this is true

    What is the other side of the energy equation?

    Exactly, your TDEE will be higher if you sleep less
  • stephdeeable
    stephdeeable Posts: 1,407 Member
    When I don't get enough sleep it makes me want to eat everything on the earth.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    No it is not. Sleeping less really screws up with hunger and appetite behavior. Trust me on this one

    ^^this. Plus it can slow down weight loss.

    If we are counting calories I doubt this is true

    What is the other side of the energy equation?

    Exactly, your TDEE will be higher if you sleep less

    Your forgetting about how hormones can effect your energy levels. Less sleep can lead to stress on your body. It can slow down your weight loss over time. It's best to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Personally, I aim for 8. I like to be well rested.
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    No it is not. Sleeping less really screws up with hunger and appetite behavior. Trust me on this one

    ^^this. Plus it can slow down weight loss.

    If we are counting calories I doubt this is true

    What is the other side of the energy equation?

    Exactly, your TDEE will be higher if you sleep less

    Your forgetting about how hormones can effect your energy levels. Less sleep can lead to stress on your body. It can slow down your weight loss over time. It's best to get at least 7 hours of sleep. Personally, I aim for 8. I like to be well rested.

    I love the abundance of proof provided
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
    Go to sleep without an alarm. See when you naturally wake up. Do the math to determine the number of hours your body specifically desires a night. From there, try to sleep that many hours a night.

    Sleeping generally uses nearly the same number of calories per hour as a sedentary individual would. So, unless you are doing cardio or something with the lost sleep hours, your TDEE will not go up much if at all.

    Lack of sleep will raise cortisol levels, which will hinder weight loss as cortisol disrupts the body's ability to process fatty tissue for immediate energy. This becomes an issue through prolonged daily lack of sleep. One night here and there will not be of significant contribution.

    Feeling sluggish and tired throughout the day is a good indication you are not getting enough sleep, as it is a physical manifestation of your body attempting to slow energy use down as it has trouble utilizing fat fast enough. This will also cause people to feel hungry throughout the day because their body needs more energy sources.

    Overall, do what you can to get your sleep.
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    Bad sleep patterns can actually cause a slow in your metabolism. Why not just try and sleep better?
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    No it is not. Sleeping less really screws up with hunger and appetite behavior. Trust me on this one

    ^^this. Plus it can slow down weight loss.
    I only get 3-5 hours a sleep a day. What matters is calories in vs calories out.
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member

    Exactly, your TDEE will be higher if you sleep less

    That rather depends on what you do during that additional time you are awake.

    Sleeping is actually a great, low intensity workout. You move frequently during sleep. You don't have the opportunity to eat. It refreshes you so that the next day you can be more active leading to higher NEAT & TEA.

    On balance I think the best fat loss strategy would be sleeping as much as you can....
  • KarenisPaleo
    KarenisPaleo Posts: 169 Member
    I once read you should compensate for lack of sleep with more movement, i.e. exercise.

    More food is just more food. The real answer of course is more sleep. Try it ;)

    It's awesome
  • bsix3
    bsix3 Posts: 291
    Not sleeping enough = Not good! I still battle with this one. It can really hinder weight loss by not giving the body enough time to recover. just keep trying! We'll get it.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    The best solution is probably to sleep more and eat the same amount...
  • myofibril
    myofibril Posts: 4,500 Member
    Oh and just to clarify:

    Sleeping has a MET value of 0.9
    Watching TV has a MET value of 1

    When are you more likely to binge on high calorie, nutrient deficient junk food? In front of the TV in the evening or while you are asleep?

    Go to bed earlier. You won't regret it...
  • Sujit8383
    Sujit8383 Posts: 726 Member
    sleeping makes u lose weight.. so actually no...... u need to sleep more i think.... and if u are up longer than I think that can make u fatter... but ur sooo tiny in ur picture i am sure it wont make a difference :)

    by the way u look like a model...:)
    Her dp is of indian model n actress bipasha basu.............now don't guess that lion is posting on mfp........:laugh:
  • Sujit8383
    Sujit8383 Posts: 726 Member
    u need enuf sleep so don't do such silly stuff, its unhealthy........:smokin:
  • ErzaScarlet
    ErzaScarlet Posts: 64 Member
    Sleeping too little makes your body hate you. I wouldn't eat more. Any increased calorie burn from being awake for two extra hours is probably offset by all the hate your body is feeling.

    Hahaha Love this.
  • runboostie
    runboostie Posts: 51 Member
    After years and years of having to work nights, I think I can say, "no."

    Interrupted sleep is a major cause of weight gain, partly because the body seeks more calories to offset fatigue, and one's resistance (to temptation) is lowered. If you must eat more, try doing so within reason...

    But...I think I just saw you are trying to keep to 1200 cal a day. In which case, you should eat more because that is unreasonably low, whether awake or asleep.

    My humble opinion. (You did ask!)

    Boo Thomas Braniac
  • TripleJ3
    TripleJ3 Posts: 945 Member
    If your body can't get the sleep it craves, than it will switch to hunger so you will feed it. I always notice when I have stayed up too late when I ignore my tiredness (watching a movie or whatnot) then it will switch to hunger. And not because you body needs more fuel, its just looking for something to compensate for the lack of sleep.