The FIVE best lazy weight loss tips – including sleeping more

LOSING weight can feel impossible task at times, no matter how much you are trying to shed.

But what many people don’t know is that things such as simply sleeping longer can make a massive difference on your weight-loss journey.

Various studies by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) have found correlations between sleeping and weight loss, reports

Here are our five best lazy weight loss tips which all revolve around hitting the sack!

Sleeping longer

NCBI researchers theorise that a lack of sleep can negatively affect your body’s ability to regulate neurotransmitters, which are chemical messengers.

These transmitters signal the need to consume calories, which means your appetite could increase if you sleep less.

Two of the key hormones transmitted are called ghrelin, which promotes hunger, and leptin, which contributes to feeling full.

The body increases and decreases the levels of these hormones throughout the day, but when you haven’t slept enough, your body is less able to regulate them.

Eating habits

Another NCBI study suggests that people who are sleep deprived often choose to eat foods that are higher in calories and carbohydrates.

This is because sleep deprivation can decrease the activity in the areas of the brain that evaluate appetite.

So while you might be trying your hardest to snack healthier, you may already be fighting a losing battle because of your sleep pattern.

Sleep deprivation & metabolism

A lack of sleep alters your circadian rhythm – your body’s 24-hour natural cycle.

Not sleeping enough or at the right times can cause this to be disrupted and your metabolism will suffer too.

These can all contribute to weight gain, obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

Make sure you don’t eat right before bed, as this could keep you awake, and research shows it can influence the success of weight loss.

Sleeping affects exercise

Everyone knows that exercising is one of the key factors in helping you on your weight-loss journey.

And losing sleep can actually affect your fitness goals detrimentally.

A good night’s sleep is essential to maintaining good health and can also help with weight loss.

As productive exercise improves sleep quality, the opposite is also true and can create a negative cycle.

If you are tired you are more likely to not be able to do as much and will be less motivated to exercise due to a lack of energy.

Get at least six hours

A study of nearly 200,000 people by the NCBI found that participants who slept for a shorter amount of time were significantly more likely to be obese.

However, long sleep duration had no effect on future obesity according to the study.

You should try and enforce a regular sleep schedule and get at least six hours kip per night, although more is even better.

Another study found that people who slept an average 5.5 hours a night had a decreased proportion of weight lost as fat by 55% than their counterparts grabbed 8.5 hours of shut-eye.