I’m desperately trying to stay afloat which got me thinking about a couple of things. It’s the beginning of the year so everyone is focused on weight loss, hitting the gym and eating healthy meals. There is so much more to weight loss than just those things. It’s a process and sometimes it’s easy to overlook some of the smaller things.
Sleep is so important. Right now I have a tiny one who is controlling my sleep schedule so it’s been a little rough. She seems to be getting more than enough sleep; it’s me who seems to be suffering. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world, though. I just have to power through.
I may be a little low on sleep lately so it really got me thinking. Getting a good night’s rest is important in the weight loss journey. I’m not an expert on the subject, but I know sleep gives you body a chance to reset and recover. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re cutting down on this time. And once you’ve lost sleep, you can’t really ever catch up.
The amount of sleep you really need depends on your own body system. I tend to do well on a solid 6 hours of sleep but I know some other people who need a solid 9 hours. It’s been said adults need between 7.5 – 8.5 hours of sleep every night (link). I’ve always made sleep a priority because I know without it I’m not going to be productive and efficient. If I feel tired and I’m not done with something, I just put it aside and take the sleep break because any work/task I’m trying to accomplish will probably fall short
I’ve always made sleep a priority because I know without it I’m not going to be productive and efficient. If I feel tired and I’m not done with something, I just put it aside and take the sleep break because any work/task I’m trying to accomplish will probably fall short of completion anyway. Sometimes you just have to stop to catch some zzzs.
Another component of weight loss is drinking water. It’s important to drink your water every day. Water helps I have several ups that I carry around with me and keep close by. I always keep water in my sight so I will remember to drink it. If it’s not in view, then I notice I’m drinking as much as I usually would.
On average, I drink 90 – 100 oz of water a day and that’s not me pushing the water drinking. The trick that works best for me is drinking big cups of water. I know if I fill up a big cup, I will most likely drink it without chugging it down. And I always drink water with my meals instead of juice (what’s that, I don’t drink much of that anyway) or soda (not much of that in my life either). It does help you feel full and you might not overeat at meal time. And don’t forget, sometimes hunger pains are sometimes just a need for water. If I think I’m hungry/
. And don’t forget, sometimes hunger pains are sometimes just a need for water. If I think I’m hungry/snackish, I tend to drink some water first and if I’m still hungry after a few minutes, then I’ll eat. Plus, don’t forget you can get water from the foods you eat, so load up on those veggies to help with your water drinking!
Since I can’t really work out until I’m cleared by the doctor (hopefully in 3 weeks), these are two things I am really trying to focus on. Getting sleep and drinking water are two things that I can control in my waiting period.
How much sleep are you getting? Are you getting enough?
