There’s no denying it: You have to sleep. But how much? Four hours a night? Twelve?
Well, everyone is different and we can’t say all patients need 8 hours of sleep.
Some people are used to 7 hours of sleep each night…others are used to 10. The goal is to find out what works for you…and then stick to that regiment.
Weight Loss and Sleep Patterns
When it comes to weight loss, how much you sleep is intricately involved with your biorhythm and alteration in sleep patterns makes weight loss difficult.
So, try and get to bed about the same time each night and wake about the same time each morning.
Sounds simple, right? Well, let’s imagine it’s Saturday night and there is a huge party at the Foxtrot club. Your college roommate is getting remarried and he wants you to come over a little early to get “loose”.
Remember, you need to get to bed about the same time you are used to and limit your food and beverage. You will get used to these parameters fairly quickly. Know your drinks and don’t eat those little crackers with something on them that you have no idea what it is.
Those crackers are BAD and they taste awful. The pink stuff in the middle is all fat and carbs.
And by the way, do not go to the Foxtrot Club starving. Eat a little something before you go and drink a diet Mountain Dew on the way.
Now, listen, if you get to bed a little late it is OK, but DO NOT stay out until 3:30 am. Remember your caloric curfew? Obey it. If you don’t, you will mess up your biorhythm and make it hard to stay on your quest.
Dr. Rick Lehman is a distinguished orthopedic surgeon in St. Louis, Missouri and an articular cartilage reconstruction pioneer. He owns U. S. Sports Medicine in Kirkwood, MO, and LehmanHealth. Learn more about Dr. Rick.