Restricting the time that you have in bed can be causing you to suffer significant sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation has some significant effects on weight loss:

• Hormone imbalance-making your appetite grow, and feelings of being full less
• Losing the last hour of sleep in a full sleep cycle, which means losing REM sleep-the stage where you burn the most calories.
• Sleep deprivation causes food cravings for high fat, high carb treats

And how much sleep do you really need, particularly if you want your body’s metabolism to work most efficiently?

• Determine what your  typical wake up time will be.
• Count back five 90 minute cycles or  7.5 hours.  (Each sleep cycle on average is 90 minutes long and the average person has five of them per night.)
• Set your alarm clock or cell phone to tell you when to go to bed — but remember to reset it for your morning alarm.
• If you wake up within 10 minutes of your morning alarm after three days of going to bed at your “bed time” you found your perfect bedtime!
• If not, and you still need your morning alarm to wake up, then move your bedtime alarm back by 15 minutes every three days until you wake up just before your morning alarm.  When you wake up before your morning alarm, you have found your perfect bedtime.

By going to bed at the right time for you, you can avoid sleep deprivation, your hormones will be in balance, and your metabolism will run smoothly.

This answer should not be considered medical advice...This answer should not be considered medical advice and should not take the place of a doctor’s visit. Please see the bottom of the page for more information or visit our Terms and Conditions.