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Do you think sleep affects weight loss?

AgidGirl

I've always read that getting enough sleep is important when trying to lose weight. I average 5-6 hours of sleep a night and I'm not sure that I'll have any chance of getting additional sleep anytime in the near future. What are your thoughts?

Replies

ruqayyahsmum

Less sleep only effects my weight as it makes me snack more

I have a baby who some nights just wants to feed. At 4am on the umpteeth breastfeed if its in my reach its going in my mouth

annacole94

It definitely affects hunger hormones. If you're tired, you're also hungry.

But it doesn't magically make you gain weight, you have to eat the food for that. So if you can control your "calories in", you can still succeed. Just do what you can; six hours is better than five.

cwolfman13

sleep deprivation can raise stress levels and increase cortisol levels which can impede fat loss in that it jacks around with your metabolism...hunger hormones are also affected. that said, I think how much sleep one actually needs is an individual thing.

bizgirl26

I was advised by a physician that lack of sleep can effect your weight in a negative way along with increasing your blood pressure and a lot of other things. I think quality of sleep rather than how many hours a night is more important but the longer you are awake the more likely you are to eat something

mph323

Not getting enough sleep makes me want to eat all the things looking for that one magical bite that makes the fuzziness go away. Other than that I haven't seen any other effect, but I haven't been sleep-deprived for long periods in a long time, like taking care of a baby, so I can't say if it ever slowed down my weight loss.

lutzsher

It is really obvious to me when im tired as my body craves food all day, it will take any energy from any source it seems. Days im rested im not nearly as hungry.

Landoficeandsnow

In my experience, it does not. I get 5 hours of sleep a day. I still managed to lose 60 lbs in about 7 months.

kristikitter

I always feel drunk if I have had too little sleep - as in, I am STARVING and want nothing more than a Mars Bar for breakfast, followed by a family-sized bag of kettle chips and a Lucozade.

ETA: I operate best on 10 hours of sleep, but 'too little' for me is like 6 or less.

deannalfisher

yes!

last week for example, I stuck to my calorie goals, worked out roughly the same as the previous week, but my sleep decresed from about 7hrs a night to 5.5 and by the end of the week, my weight was up 3lbs (back on my normal schedule and its back to where it was before)

sardelsa

Sleep deprivation did not affect my weight loss at all. Mind you the less sleep I got the more I was breastfeeding so maybe that's why

lilawolf

I have less willpower to spend on cooking, making good choices etc.... Still: CICO.

ETA: I think that all of those articles are taking about what happens to people who are NOT tracking their calories. They just make worse choices, from energy drinks to donuts looking for energy, and restaurant/fast food meals rather than homecooked...

TimothyFish

If I don't get a full five hours of sleep a night my willpower goes out the window.

victoria_1024

If I'm sleep deprived, my workouts are way less intense so I'm sure I'm burning fewer calories. I would say my self control isn't as good either. But I lost weight successfully being constantly sleep deprived with a new baby (my 4th).

kcmsmith0405

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/sleep-and-obesity/

sarochka85

If I sleep eight hours, I don't get hungry till mid afternoon.

A few hours' sleep and I'm ravenous from midmorning.

It makes a difference to me as my appetite steps up several gears.

bpotts44

For long term health diet and sleep are your number one and two.

leanjogreen18

Not only am I hungrier when I don't get 7-8 hrs of sleep I seem to make poorer choices re food and intake.

fitoverfortymom

I think more/better sleep helps. Anecdotally, when I sleep long and well, I lose more faster. When I sleep little and like crap, I lose slowly. Maybe it's the stress of sleep deprivation. Who knows for sure. Its also easier for me to make good food choices when I've gotten good sleep.

AliceDark

When I'm sleep deprived, I feel hungrier, I'm more likely to reach for higher-calorie foods to get an energy boost, and my non-exercise movement levels drop way down. (I'm more likely to lie on my couch with my dog than I am to take her for a walk). All of those combined both increase CI and decrease CO for me.

unknown

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Silentpadna

deannalfisher wrote: »

yes!

last week for example, I stuck to my calorie goals, worked out roughly the same as the previous week, but my sleep decresed from about 7hrs a night to 5.5 and by the end of the week, my weight was up 3lbs (back on my normal schedule and its back to where it was before)

Correlation.....not necessarily causation. Fluid retention (my mantra of late) can exactly mimic this...

crooked_left_hook

I crave candy, chips, sugary coffees, and baked treats when I have less than 6 hours sleep. I mindlessly eat to stay awake. Too many of those days and I'll gain weight. Not to mention that being awake longer means I'm more likely to need an additional meal. Nights when my boyfriend's band plays are two dinner nights.

Francl27

I heard that it influences fat burning too.

But mostly, less sleep for me means I'm awake longer, so I'm more likely to be hungry, and when I'm tired I tend to make poor food choices...

Afura

In my completely non-scientific testing, I have noticed that I won't have a loss if I have a period of days without a good nights sleep whether that's just happenstance or not... my brain likes it. It never hurts to say "get a proper nights sleep" at any rate. I tend to crave something with caffeine in it more than food lately - I want to be wakey plz.

kq1981

In my opinion lack of sleep impedes weight loss. I have sleep apnoea and this impeded weight loss. It wasn't impossible, just harder. Everyone is correct.

AmyOutOfControl

It does for me!!! I have mild sleep apnea (tested by specialist) and chronic insomnia problems. Before I saw a doctor about it, i would wake in the middle of the night and snack to help myself go back to sleep. Sleep deprivation also sucks my willpower during the day because I feel so crappy.

Interestingly enough, when I started exercising for an hour most days of the week my symptoms vastly improved. I became a runner for weight loss but found it has been life changing for my sleep quality and energy!

My200lbLife

I agree with the person who said "Correlation.....not necessarily causation."

All I know is that I've observed I'm hungrier when I don't get as much sleep. No idea if it's in my head or that's a physical response?? So I tend to over-eat on days when I'm tired. Doesn't mean I should give in but I do...so yes, if I eat more calories than I should no matter what the reason, it's going to be a gain.