How much sleep do you get a night?

It seems the average is between six to seven hours of sleep a night, but most people need eight hours or more. So what happens when we don't get enough sleep? Surprisingly enough, recent scientific studies have shown that a lack of sleep is a contributing factor to unwanted weight gain!

I was a little confused by the claim until I did some research. Apparently the extra weight gain is due to the stress put on the body as a result of its lack of sleep. When your body is under stress, it reacts by secreting a hormone called cortisol that sends extra bursts of energy and heightens your memory functions to compensate for your condition. At the same time, the body also adjusts how it metabolizes sugar, fat, and other substances by storing up fat. The increased cortisol also raises insulin levels, which means you have to work even harder to burn that stored fat. Basically, your internal system slows down.

So, while there are times when we can't control our sleep patterns, it is to our benefit to get enough sleep. Studies show that people who are well rested have more energy and tend to exercise harder and longer than those who are tired from lack of sleep. And in addition, when people are well rested, they are less likely to turn to poor food choices such as sweets for a pick-me-up.

So, if you want to feel healthier, trimmer, and more energetic, why not try getting to bed a half hour or hour earlier to get more shut-eye. Remember that old saying "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise." It looks like science is proving that. Why not try it to see how you feel after a good night's sleep? Your body would thank you with better health, more energy, and a trimmer figure.