The Need for Sleep
Sleep is something we need, and without it, our bodies and our minds do not function properly. There is no substitute for sleep, and to deny its necessity, to deny how much you need it, is to not take care of yourself.
Your body, including your brain, actually mends and maintains itself when you sleep. If you strength train or do any sort of resistance exercise, then your muscles repair themselves and grow stronger when you're asleep. If you don't sleep, your muscles will stay fatigued and not get stronger. Getting enough sleep helps keep you safe; being sleep-deprived increases the likelihood of accidents and mistakes. If you want to stay healthy — have fewer colds, for example — keep in mind that not getting enough sleep will lower your immune system so you'll be more likely to get sick, and stay sick longer.
How do I know if I'm not sleeping enough?
If you fall asleep as you're watching TV or when you are a passenger in a car, there is a good chance you don't sleep enough. Other signs of sleep deprivation include feeling your energy drop significantly in the late afternoon, not being able to stay awake when lights go out for a meeting or the movies, or not being able to stay focused during conversations, as if you're drifting off.
It's all about moderation when it comes to sleep. If you have been sleeping more than nine or ten hours or have trouble getting out of bed in the morning even after a full night's sleep, then you may be suffering from depression or another illness, with fatigue as a symptom. Sleeping too much is definitely something about which you should speak to your doctor, because, it, too, will prevent you from getting fit and losing weight.
