Weight loss is a funny old process. It takes weeks, months, even years to lose a significant amount of weight for some, yet a few unhealthy meals here and there and the weight that we fought so hard to lose is often put right back on.
Weight loss is stressful, it’s physically and mentally demanding, and it’s a downright pain in the backside sometimes. Despite this however, if you nail it and get it right, it’s actually very rewarding.
If you’re gaining weight and you aren’t sure why, it could be worth looking at your bedtime routine. That’s right, the things you do before you get into bed could potentially be responsible for you piling on the pounds. Here are some bedtime mistakes that are making you gain weight.
Late night snacking
We’ve heard people glamourizing midnight snacks, but in reality, late night snacking is the last thing you should be doing if you want to lose weight, and get a good night’s sleep for that matter. If you eat right before going to sleep, you’re basically going to bed with a full stomach. When you sleep, your metabolism slows down because you’re less active, so you convert fewer calories in the food you consumed, into energy because you need less energy. Rather than wasting what’s left, your body instead takes it and converts it into fat. Eating late could also disrupt your hormonal balance.
Caffeine in the evening
Generally speaking, caffeine is beneficial for fat loss because it increases your energy levels and speeds up the metabolism. If you consume it late at night however, it could have the opposite effect. To begin with, it will disrupt your sleep, and it also contains chlorogenic acid, which promotes weight gain as you sleep. During the day, this polyphenol can promote weight loss, but when you sleep, it’s a different story.
Not getting enough sleep
If you go to bed too late, or get up too early, a lack of sleep could be responsible for weight gain. To begin with, when we sleep our bodies regulate our hormones, including those which promote fat loss. If our hormones are out of whack due to a lack of sleep, this could leave us prone to weight gain.
Another drawback is that when we’re tired our metabolisms slow down so we burn fewer calories, and we have less energy, so exercise becomes harder. Finally, a lack of sleep can also trigger food cravings and emotional eating, so unless you crave steamed cod and broccoli, your diet will likely suffer because of your tiredness.
Not getting enough exercise
Okay, exercise right before bed is a no-go because it can boost endorphins and adrenalin which will cause you to feel awake. Exercising earlier in the day however, will help you to drift off at night. A lack of exercise can be detrimental for weight loss because not only will it be harder to fall asleep, but it will likely also slow down your metabolism, so you burn fewer calories as you rest.
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