Do you dream of losing weight?

Tara Curran

Weight loss can be affected by many factors; the obvious methods like a healthy diet and regular exercise are the first ones that come to mind. But perhaps there’s more to it than that. Ever embarked on a health and fitness regime only to find that the fruits of your labour never ripen? More than likely there are underlying reasons for the lack of success.

A recent study published in The International Journal of Obesity found that there is a direct link between weight gain, the amount of stress in your diet and the number of hours sleep a person gets. So when trying to lose the lbs a stressful life combined with a lack of sleep could be hindering your efforts. The study found that people who got more than 6 but less than 8 hours of sleep and who reported low levels of stress in their lives were the most success in a weight loss program. It was found that having more than 8 hours sleep a night makes people too inactive while having less than 6 hours can increase a person’s stress levels and increase cravings for unhealthy foods.

So the secret to a triumphant weight loss may lie in a good nights sleep combined with a healthy diet and exercise. But in our busy stressful lives how do we achieve that magic sleep?

1. Aim to go to bed at the same time each night and rise at the same time each morning.

2. Create a bedtime routine, this will signal to your body that it’s time to sleep. You could have a bath, get into your pyjamas, have, a caffeine free warm drink and sit and unwind for a few minutes with a book. Make sure it’s nothing too stimulating though or else you’ll be tempted to stay up half the night reading.

3. Exercise can help to regulate your sleep patterns as it reduces stress and helps us to clear our heads and relax. Try and fit a regular exercise regime into your week. It doesn’t have to involve hours in the gym, a 30 minute walk each day, or some gentle yoga will do wonders for your stress levels.

4. Avoid any stimulants, especially in the evening time, so eliminate the cigarettes and caffeine. Contrary to popular belief an alcoholic drink before bedtime will not help you to sleep better, it will only lead to a restless nights sleep.

5. Deal with life’s stresses during the day and put them on hold in the evening, they’ll still be there in the morning, but you’ll be better able to deal with them after a good nights sleep.

6. Many people find listening to the radio or watching TV helps them to unwind before hitting the hay but remember to turn them off before you go to bed otherwise you could be woken up in the middle of the night by an extremely loud ad.