
So you exercise every day.
And are careful with what you eat.
Yet you can’t seem to lose weight … and worse, you still feel like crap.
What gives?
Don’t worry. You’re not alone.
We live in a hectic society. Everywhere we look, there’s always something competing for our attention. Work, kids, social obligations—the list just on. It’s too easy to get on the busy bandwagon and jam our days full to the brim.
Let me ask you:
Are you constantly on the go, racing from one thing to the next?
Do you sacrifice sleep in order to get things done?
Have you forgotton what it’s like to feel calm and rested?
If you answered yes to these, then you’re probably missing out on one of the most critical ingredients to healthy living.
Staying healthy takes more than just exercise and eating well. You need to stop… and Chill!
Making time to relax and get a good nights sleep leads to:
A healthier weight
Clarity of thought and better decision making
Better work performance
Reduced heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, depression
Better mood, reduced anxiety and feeling better all round
Pretty good reasons to slow down. Agree?
The powerful flow-on effects of stress and sleep deprivation
You’ve probably read about how stress and sleep deprivation can directly impact your hormones and metabolism. Insulin, cortisol and other chemicals have all been implicated in a rise in heart disease, diabetes, obesity and depression. Lack of sleep and constant stress drain your health bucket.
But, just as importantly, there is a cascade of powerful flow-on effects that exacerbates these hormonal changes.
Here are some examples:
Tiredness and emotional distress are strong triggers for comfort-eating. Resistance is futile.
Feeling tired makes you crave high energy foods.
Being overtired is like being drunk. Your frontal lobe is imparied. Willpower goes out the window and you easily give in to cravings.
If you’re tired and harried, you’re more likely to opt for takeout meals, skip exercise and push on with jobs into the night.
In a nutshell – more cravings. less impulse control. A bad combo and a viscious cycle. All this can be solved with a good nights sleep and learing how to makes some space in your day to relax and enjoy life. 3 Things you can do TODAY to get you back on track 1. Get the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep. 2. Make time to relax and rest the mind. 3. Enjoy some time with people you love and be grateful for what you already have. Throw in some healthy food and regular exercise and you’ve got your fundamentals covered.
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