#Fitness | 10 MIN READ

Don't lose sleep over your weight! Sleep to lose weight

Seriously!! How can that be possible?

If one could lose weight by just sleeping, the multi-million-dollar fitness industry would not exist.

Well, to put it in perspective, sleep is one of the essential aspects of staying fit and healthy, the other two being diet and exercise. Sleep helps the mind and body finish their back-office corrective and restorative functions, so you wake up refreshed. And yes, since the body is up to work as you sleep, it does burn calories and consequently affects weight loss.

The human body needs energy to be able to perform the different voluntary and involuntary activities of life.

Voluntary activities are physical activities carried out by an individual in their daily routine.

Involuntary activities refer to the internal functions of the human system that take place without the conscious control of the individual, like pumping of blood, breathing, digesting food, cell repair, regulation of water and body temperature, etc.

So even if an individual is not performing any physical activity, the body still burns calories to carry out its essential functions. Hence, the body does burn calories when you sleep.

You also lose weight while sleeping because of water loss through breath and sweat. Also, as sleep time reduces the eating hours in a day, it further contributes to a calorie deficit.

You can better your body's calorie-burning mechanism while you sleep with these easy suggestions:

• The first step to optimise weight loss while sleeping is to get enough sleep. Research has proven that sleep deprivation leads to weight gain. So, prepare for a night of deep, restful sleep by switching off all electronic devices at least half an hour before bedtime. Ideally, keep your bedroom free of all electronic distractions – the TV, laptop, iPad, mobile, etc.

•The quality of sleep significantly affects the number of calories you burn. So, relax your body and mind with simple stretching exercises, breathing and meditation. This will help relieve physical and mental stress and calm your nervous system.

• Make sure that the room is dark, serene, and cool, and the bedding and pillow are comfortable so that you may enjoy uninterrupted deep sleep, which allows the body to burn more calories as it smoothly moves through different sleep stages.

• Have an early and light dinner, so your body doesn't have to work long into the night to digest the meal. When your system is relaxed, so are you, which results in a sound, restful sleep. Plus, it keeps the body free to focus on recharge, repair and detox work to keep you in the pink of health.

•Avoid alcohol and caffeine drinks in the evening as they can cause sleep disruption, thereby impeding the body's calorie-burning momentum.

• A cup of hot turmeric milk before bedtime works as a healthy protein snack that not only helps satiate hunger but also helps one to fall asleep quickly. Milk contains tryptophan, an amino acid that plays an essential role in improving an individual's sleep, mood and behaviour.

A sound, restful sleep is essential for maintaining good physical, mental and emotional health. Adequate sleep gives the body enough time to recharge the system and burn calories in the process.

Conversely, sleep deprivation interferes with the body's work to restore and revive the system. As a result, you not only burn fewer calories in your sleep, but because you wake up tired and grumpy, you tend to reach out for calorie-dense foods to alleviate the stress.

So, give sleep-time due importance in your daily routine and see how it works wonders for your overall well-being.