The National Sleep Foundation (now you're groaning - you know what I'm gonna say) says that an adult should be getting between 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
How Hormones Affect Your Sleep-
Leptin and ghrelin work in a kind of "checks and balances" system to control feelings of hunger and fullness. Ghrelin, which is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, stimulates appetite, while leptin, produced in fat cells, sends a signal to the brain when you are full. When you don't get enough sleep, it drives leptin levels down, which means you don't feel as satisfied after you eat. Lack of sleep also causes ghrelin levels to rise, which means your appetite is stimulated, so you want more food.
Inadequate sleep:
*interferes with the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates and causes high blood levels of glucose, which leads to higher insulin levels and greater body-fat storage.
*drives down leptin levels, which causes the body to crave carbohydrates.
*reduces levels of growth hormone--a protein that helps regulate the body's proportions of fat and muscle.
*can lead to insulin resistance and contribute to increased risk of diabetes
*can increase blood pressure
*can increase the risk of heart disease
This is a toughy for me - I lay here typing still at 11:10 and I'm up at 6:15...but even if I don't have anyone doing it with me, I'm still going to work on it. So, to get between the 7-9 hours of sleep, going by my 6:15 alarm clock, that'll put me to bed....right now...11:15. Because of my alarm, that's my new bedtime.
Let me know if you'd like to join in. It's worth it. I looked up a lot on google just now about weight loss/gain and how sleep effects everything. I think this'll be a good challenge.
Gnite my strong women...sleep well. ♥