Today we’ll cut down to the last macro-factor that influences your weight, which is sleep. Amazingly or not, the pounds on the scale are not only influenced by the energy intake – energy consumption ratio, but there’s an entire mechanism that’s responsible for it.
I’m sure that at least once in your life, it happened to have a couple of days or even weeks where you didn’t get enough rest. As someone who had sleep problems for a long period of time, I can tell you: we barely realize how important is a good nights’ sleep, and we usually do it after we don’t get it anymore.
But what happens in your body when you’re sleep deprived?
The main reason we need to sleep is so that the brain can take a break and avoid overworking. If we sleep less than 8 hours a night (or less than 6 if you’re above 60 years old), the brain doesn’t manage to recover completely.
Going like this for prolonged periods of time can lead to brain damage, but in rare cases. Nonetheless, just a couple of days are enough to give you an anxious or irritated mood, or to make it harder for you to concentrate. Your vigilance decreases and it’s like you’re not really present to your surroundings.
In a way, not getting enough sleep is similar to “going back to basics” concept. In the instincts vs. conscience battle, it’s the instincts who win. Because the brain is not rested enough to act on it.
Moreover, food and sleep have the same finality: to provide energy for the body. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll try to compensate with a larger appetite. But the truth is, each one provides a different type of energy which can’t be compensated by the other. Therefore, get enough sleep, eat enough through the entire day, and your body will thank you for that!