Shed those extra pounds by getting some quality shut eye - it's true! It is known amongst the medical profession that inadequate sleep leads to unnecessary fat storage. For you health enthusiasts, hitting the snooze button for that extra half hour may not only help you to look buff in that new outfit, but perform more effectively in your training.
Its All About Hormone Imbalance
The first of the culprits is the stress hormone, Cortisol. In excess, Cortisol is bad news, and riot just in your ability to cope with the day to day stresses in the office or at home. It has been discovered that Cortisol leads to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance means a bulk of fat cells bypass being used for- energy and are sent straight to your waistline -frustrating when you've worked hard on your diet and fitness. If you're working out hard every day on top of limited sleep, your Cortisol problem is compounded even further. We suggest you invest in a really good bed, just like British Olympic marathon runner and performance expert, Liz Yelling.
The Hunger Hormone
The second hormone out of balance is your 'feeling full' hormone, Leptin. A recent U.S study found that inadequate sleep decreases levels of Leptin. As levels decrease the brain starts to tell the body it's hungry when it's not. Hunger is one of the body's strongest survival signals that shape our behaviour and choices. It is not just about eating high quality proteins, fats and fibrous whole foods to steers those hunger cravings.... but also to get an early night and ensure you are comfortable and well supported in bed.
Perform Better
OK, so you're convinced that more sleep will help you hit your health and fitness goals, but get this...not only will you shed more fat by sleeping longer,you will firm up those muscles too - yes, believe it! Growth hormones are released into your blood stream as you go through the deep sleep stage (stages 3 & 4) of the sleep cycle. Your soft tissues repair stronger and firmer, ready for the next work out. Typically you will go through 3-6 cycles per night, depending on how long you sleep for. You should therefore aim for as may sleep cycles as possible, so don't feel guilty about lying in. Keep cosy under those sheets that bit longer!
source: Triathlon_Plus_Mar2012
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