Whether you’re looking at weight loss or weight gain, sleep plays an important role in your overall weight management. It’s said that as long as you burn what you eat, everything is fine. So if you’re indulging in calories, it’s important to work it out. So, does sleeping immediately after you’ve eaten result in piling up of pounds?
Your calorie intake is determined by a lot of factors, like gender, current weight, as well as your physical activity level. An average person typically needs between 1,600 and 3,000 calories everyday to maintain weight, according to Livestrong.
Apparently, your calorie intake goes on throughout the day, and you don’t eat just before going to bed. So, any meal can result in excessive calories, and it’s not necessary that it’s the one you have before bedtime. In short, it’s your total calorie count that matters.
However, your sleep cycle can have an impact on weight gain. A 2010 study, published in the journal Sleep, indicates that sleeping too little, or too much can be result in weight gain. This implies that you should stick to seven or eight hours of sleeping, every day.
Insufficient sleep can have an impact on your hormones, especially the ones that guide your appetite. Your ghrelin levels go up due to lack of sleep, and that makes you feel hungry. If you’re tired all the time, you’re likely to eat more, throughout the day.
Thus, your diet and sleep patterns have an impact on your weight in a different way. It’s your total calorie intake due to your lifestyle that matters. If your circadian rhythms (that dictate our sleep cycles) are disrupted because you are eating at bedtime, then you’re likely to pile up kilos. Also, since night time snacking is all about processed foods, it’s an unhealthy habit altogether.
If you are working late, opt for healthier dinner options. Choose lean meat and veggies over fried chicken from your favourite joint. If you feel hungry before going to bed, have a salad instead of any packet food. You can perk up your salad by adding interesting things and experimenting with ingredients.
If you find it troublesome to find time to cook, just prepare everything in bulk and stock it up. Grill a lot of chicken breasts and boil large portions of rice. If you come back home after a tiring day at work, all you have to do is reheat and eat! Also, watch out for the screen while eating. Mindful eating helps in making the most of what you eat.
