Thu, June 25, 2009 - 8:24:45

Sleep it Off

Finally, an exercise routine we can really get into!  As Dr. Dennis Rosen reports on his blog at Psychology Today, recent scientific research supports the finding that sleep is actually tied to weight loss.  According to Rosen’s article, sleep related weight loss may occur because metabolic rates actually increase during sleep, due to the brain’s heightened activity during REM. Since the brain comprises 20% of the body’s total energy use, it seems that sleep may actually be a form of exercise. Yes, that’s right, couch potatoes rejoice, because the world’s most leisurely activity just might hold the answer to helping you shed those extra pounds.

If you’re a workaholic or busy parent who just can’t seem to lose that excess bit of weight, you might want to ask yourself one simple question: “am I getting enough sleep?”  With less than half of Americans getting the recommended seven and a half to eight hours per night, it’s a good bet that you’re one of them.

But, fitting in those extra few hours of sleep each night is easier said than done.  After all, with looming deadlines, kid’s soccer games, and a host of other commitments, it’s hard to find the time to breathe, let alone sleep.  That’s why we suggest you try a similar approach to the one we use when exercising in order to get to bed earlier.  And it all starts with thinking small.

Everyone knows we dread our hourly sessions on the StairMaster, but we’ve discovered a secret to shrinking those sessions down to size.  Now, when we hit the gym for a little workout, instead of doing the whole hour at once, we use a timer to count down the minutes of our sessions, starting with ten minute increments, decreasing to nine, then eight, and so on. 

But, on your new sleep plan, you’ll use our method in reverse.  Each night, for one week, make the commitment to go to bed just ten minutes earlier than the night before.  By the end of the week, you’ll have gotten an extra hour with barely any effort.  Looking to add in another hour?  Just keep going for another full week and before you know it, you’ll be in the habit of going to bed two hours earlier than you did when you started.  Not only will you feel more refreshed, chances are you’ll shed a few pounds in the process.

Now, if only the StairMaster were that easy…

Posted by Linda and Robin