Just a question. how much does sleep affect weight loss? I have 14 month old twins who get up at least 4 times a night. I have a 3 year old that started sleeping all night right before I had the twins, so it has been 3 years since I have had at least 6 hours of sleep a night. 3 years ago, is when I started having weight loss issues. I just assumed it was bad diet and baby fat. Could it also be from not enough sleep?

I don't remember reading articles about chronic sleep deprivation and diet, but it makes sense to me. Sleep affects everything that happens in your body, doesn't it? There are studies that show chronic sleep deprivation affects judgement and cognitive capability. So, a sleep deprived person ~may~ be more prone to making less healthy food choices, if nothing else.

Still, it would not surprise me to learn that chronic sleep deprivation affects the endocrine system (hormones); and certainly the complex interplay of hormones impacts weight gain/loss.

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~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

I used a search engine and the first hit provided this article.

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April

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"With a loss of sleep, your body may not be able to metabolize carbohydrates as well, which leads to an increased storage of fats and higher levels of blood sugar."

"Not only do we accomplish less with less sleep, we also don?t burn as many calories. The body?s reaction is to hoard calories as fat, making our weight loss goals more difficult than they need to be."

Well no wonder its been hard... As far as trying to get more sleep, that just isn't going to happen until the twins sleep all night. I have the "right diet" and exercise down though so that will help.

Thank you so much for the article April.

Good article, April.

Lack of sleep causes stress, and that can keep you from losing. The sad thing is, you don't sleep when you have small children, because they are up a lot. Then they hit puberty, and you don't sleep from worrying about them. Then they hit their teens, and your really don't sleep from worry. Then they go away to college or out on their own, or get married and have their own children, and you don't sleep for worrying. Then perimenopause and menopause hit you, and you don't sleep because of the hormonal changes. Then you get old, and you don't sleep because you're old, and aches and pains keep you awake. Do we ever get enough sleep???



So, Bonniejo, hope you find a little time to squeeze in a few more zzzzzzzzs!!!

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Nita

That's a great article, April!

Actually, I think there have been a couple of studies recently linking lack of weightloss (or even weightgain!) to sleep deprivation... I seem to have read a couple of different articles about it in the last few months...
I can only speak for myself and say that it DEFINITELY affects my ability to lose weight!
I have a 2-year-old who has suffered from sleep problems since she was born! I have not had good, regular sleep since I got pregnant because I was dealing with plummeting-blood-sugar-caused-insomnia while I was pregnant with her. :(
That said, when I stay on plan and keep myself fully in ketosis, I sleep FAR BETTER than at any other time!
In other words, even if I only get 6 hours in a night, the sleep is better quality sleep and it does seem to make a difference!
***One final note, however, for newbies: When first going INTO KETOSIS (like the first day or two), I always suffer insomnia. This is always TEMPORARY and is relatively common for many people.
Of course, when I am going through it, I'm usually beating myself over the head wondering WHY I ever let myself slip out of ketosis in the first place!
HTH,

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Summer

I have sleep apnea, treated with CPAP therapy. Prior to diagnosis, my weight went up to 225 on my 5' 1" frame. The following article discusses lack of sleep causing weight gain and lack of weight loss: http://onhealth.webmd.com/script/mai...ticlekey=55862. I'm a newbie - this is a terrific web site. I've lost 55 pounds in 3 years. No diet. Ate anything I wanted, just lots less of it. My partner of 12 years is on a low carb diet, and for two weeks I've been eating more like he does. Boy, was I surprised when I dropped 5 pounds in 8 days! Then gave into the carb craving and put back on 2 pounds in 2 days. Typical for me. I go to exercise class 4 times a week, which helps with the weight control. Have plateaued at 170-175 for a full year, but have lost a full dress size! Yippee! And back to the original question, does lack of sleep affect weight gain and weight loss? Yes, yes, yes. 80% of people with sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome are not diagnosed, and many of them are overweight. When the sleep disorders are treated correctly, frequently people lose weight. I'll step down from my soap box now and read and learn from all of you. Thanks for being here for me. kateinmo

Welcome, Kate.

Hope you'll make yourself at home here.

Feel free to start your own thread in the Newbie section, to introduce yourself.

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Hi!

It makes sense to me that if a person is tired and rundown the body may try to make itself feel better by craving foods, high energy foods I suppose.

I foudn that article very informative and interesting ... Ihave leg/knee problems, and at times they do keep me awake at h=night. I find myself waking up to turn over in bed, when my knees are bad its quite a struggle to turn over, so I wonder if this is making my nights less restful?

I figure that as I lose weight my knee problems will lessen, Im hoping that anyway! They are so much better than they were a year ago, and hehe, 2 inches smaller! Its a start!

Welcome to the group, hang in there YOU CAN DO IT!!! Low carb eating is the way to go!

Shelak

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www.westernpetpastries.comGreat treats for your GREAT dog!

Do any of you ever get leg cramps when doing the low carb woe? I do at times and its miserable!:( I have read in the books (Atkins and Carbohydrat Addicts Lifespan Program) that they are caused by your body losing too much minerals and water as yo are losing weight. Its a good indiction that weight is coming off, but also can be casued by dehydration, so I try to drink a lot of water but hten I have to get up to go potty during the night sheesh! Whats the answer?

Shelak

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www.westernpetpastries.comGreat treats for your GREAT dog!

Hey Shelak...I too suffered vicious leg cramps until i started on a potassium supplement...helps tremendously..do not have leg cramps any more..but word of warning..you must monitor your potassium intake also..read that somewhere..cant really remember what the warnings were though...sorry...I believe in my vitamins!!

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LISA

I've gotten leg crams when I've been in a situation where I perspired a lot more than usual.

You might try getting more potassium into your diet. Instead of eating a banana, some low carb choices rich in potassium include spinach, avocados, sea kelp, and Morton's Salt Substitute (potassium chloride). There are other veggies that are good sources of potassium, but I forget what they are at the moment.

If getting up to go to the bathroom is a problem, try drinking more of your water earlier in the day.

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.