Wednesday, June 3, 2009

How's Your Sleep????



If you are reading this blog then you are most likely in the small percentage of Americans that watches what they eat, and exercises on a regular basis. We spend a lot of time learning about nutrition and pushing our bodies to new limits. However, there is one piece that is still missing for many people...and that is adequate amounts of sleep! The Zone is centered around controlling and maintaining insulin levels in the body. However, lack of sleep can impair the bodies sensitivity to insulin which can lead to:

1. Abdominal Adiposity= belly fat

2. High circulating blood glucose

3. High blood fats- (triglycerides)

4. High blood pressure (hypertension)

Are you getting enough???? Post thoughts to comments.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

How much exactly is "enough"? We hear anything from 6-10 hours a night. Also, I think quality is just as important. I tend to wake up a lot during the night, and then I'm not rested, even if I've slept for 8 hours.

Amy said...

I know that I don't get enough sleep. Working in the ER makes things difficult to get on a normal sleep pattern. How much sleep is recommended on the Zone?

michele said...

What is enough? That is hard to give a single answer to because everyone is different. I do think that you should wake up feeling rested and not feel like you need a nap in the middle of the day. If you need caffeine at about 3pm you probably are not getting enough rest overall. For most of us...take what you think you need and then add a bit more! Don't try to make up for a bad week of sleep all in one day on the weekend. Stick to a schedule as much as you can by going to bed around the same time each night and waking up around the time each morning.

Eva T. said...

Read "lights out" sleep, sugar and survival. it has a rx for people on night shifts and how do deal with that.

IAMAOK said...

I always try and plan my night for 8 hours of sleep...but late games, workouts, etc. sometimes gets in the way of my early morning necessary rise...ah, the medical field...I fall asleep wicked quickly, but wake frequently in the night too, but also return fast to sleep! So most days, I am tired-ish...I have been taking Valerian root before bed now for about 2 months...helps a bit. Frustrating cycle...


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