Part of my motivation to lose weight was to reduce my fatigue. I used to doze off every afternoon at work and would sleep at every opportunity. I really was more of a beached-whale than a human.
My daytime fatigue has disappeared since I became healthy, and I've tried to reduce my sleep time as much as possible, but I'm learning I still need it. In being extraordinarily busy this last month, I've tried to go without much sleep and have noticed detrimental effects on my health including prolonged illness and a little bit of weight-gain.
It turns out those effects are normal and common among sleep-deprived folks. A January 2006 Harvard Medical School article lists 6 common areas negatively affected by chronic sleep deprivation:
1. Learning and memory
2. Metabolism and weight gain
3. Safety (alertness, etc.)
4. Mood
5. Cardiovascular health
6. Disease
Although sleep may seem like a necessary evil, it's a necessary part of transforming one from a beached-whale into an Evel Knievel.
Tell me if you've experienced negative side-effects of sleep deprivation or if you've found a way to function (naturally- I know about energy drinks:) with less sleep?
Then come on into bed, babe!!!!!
ReplyDelete