Shape up for summer - part V

Thanks to everyone for their comments on this weeks blogs. It appears I'm not the only one who was jolted into action by last weekends nice weather. 

The final weight-loss tip is in appropriate one for a Friday and something you can hopefully do over the weekend .. and that is to catch up on some sleep.

Ideally you should get a minimum of eight hours per night, maybe more, once you've had enough you should wake naturally. However the work hard, play hard city lifestyle means this isn't always possible. If you can't get enough sleep during the week then take the opportunity on the weekend to catch-up.

Whilst you sleep your body rests, repairs and detoxifies. But how does this affect your weight?

If you don't get sufficient rest and your body can't repair itself properly the body will perceive this as stress and, as per my previous blogs, under stress the body will store more fat as a protective mechanism, particularly around the waistline. It may also up regulate your appetite to increase food intake for the same reason - I certainly notice I'm much hungrier if I haven't slept properly.

As for detoxification, this occurs whilst you sleep and your liver is apparently most active between the hours of 11pm and 3am, so it's important to be asleep well before 11 for optimum detoxification. If your liver cannot detoxify all the toxins in your body it will wrap and store them in fat to make them safe until it can process them. Therefore a high intake of toxins such as alcohol, pollution and artificial food additives combined with a lack of sleep can encourage fat storage.

If you struggle to get to sleep try some yoga or deep breathing before bed (see my blog from 6th April). Make your bedroom as conducive to sleep as possible - get a comfortable mattress, minimise light or sound disturbances and keep your room at a comfortable temperature (I recently got black out blinds and find I wake up a lot later).

Have a nice weekend and try and have a lie in!

Ps for anyone in London looking for a fun way to burn off some calories check out this weekends Nike Grid challenge - very 24!
 
http://www.contagiousmagazine.com/2010/04/nike_21.php
 
------------------