A good night’s sleep can be one of the most effective methods for weight loss.
A survey of 1,000 adults found 74% of dieters with regular sleep patterns lost weight with more ease than those with poor sleeping patterns.
80% of good sleepers were also more likely to maintain consistent eating habits - three meals a day at normal hours, which aids weight loss.
The most effective dieters slept between 7.5 – 8 hours a night, concluded the research commissioned by Forza Supplements, a sports nutrition company.
They found the best time to go to bed was 10:10pm, allowing 20 minutes to nod off. This also allows 90 minutes for the most restorative non-REM sleep – best achieved before midnight.
“They call it beauty sleep for a very good reason - eight hours a night really does help us to lose weight and live more healthily,” said Lee Smith, managing director of Forza Supplements.
This confirms the key to successful dieting is discipline and routine, while the erratic patterns of poor sleepers (less than 7 hours) make them prone to diet lapses.
64% of poor sleepers admitted to snacking in between meals, and having difficulty sticking to their diet. On the other hand, only 17% of good sleepers were snackers, and 72% found they could stick to a diet plan.
Finally, 33% of poor sleepers complained that they were more likely to put on weight because they were awake longer, having more time to eat.
So, less sleep = weight gain, and more sleep = weight loss… let’s get to sleeping people!