Sleeping Your Way to Weight Loss

Can catching Zs help you drop lbs?

You've been working at shedding that last five pounds for months, and nothing seems to work. You cut back on the amount of calories you eat, work out twice a day, and say no to every sweet temptation that has passed your way. So why do those extra pounds keep such a firm grip on your hips? It could be your unwillingness to hit the hay.

That's right. According to legit medical research, spending an ample amount of time getting shuteye is essential to helping your body get rid of those unwanted pounds. Wondering how it works? Prepare to be amazed.

Getting Hormonal

Inside your body are all kinds of hormones that are responsible for doing all sorts of things. Two of these hormones, leptin and ghrelin*, have a stronghold on your appetite. In other words, if these two hormones decide to make you feel hungry, you're going to feel hungry. They work by causing you to feel hungry (ghrelin) and informing your brain that you've had enough to eat (leptin).

While these hormones function quite well most of the time, a lack of sleep can result in your leptin levels to plummet and your ghrelin levels to rise. As a result, you feel hungry more than you ought and your brain never has a clue that you've had enough to eat. When this happens, you can only imagine the damage that can be done to all the hard work you've put into looking your best.

Put It to Bed

Now that you're ready to power up your sleep for an easier time with weight loss, you may be wondering how to get better sleep. The first step is to give yourself enough time to sleep. You may be able to function on four or five hours of sleep each night, but most people require more. On average, shoot for eight hours, give or take an hour. It may mean giving up your late night dancing ways or beginning your workout a bit later in the morning, but getting your body's hormones regulated will pay off.

In the event you're already spending plenty of time in bed at night without feeling rested in the morning, you may be living with a sleep disorder. From sleep apnea (pauses in breathing as you sleep) to restless legs syndrome (irresistible urges to move your legs when you rest) to narcolepsy (constant sleepiness), sleep disorders disrupt your bedtime routine and your entire day from the moment you wake up. With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can find the relief you need from your condition and beginning sleeping better and losing weight with greater ease.

*Sleep loss also changes the amount of another hormone (cortisol) produced by your body. Like the combination of leptin and ghrelin, cortisol is also directly responsible for regulating whether you feel hungry or full.

The Other Way Around

Getting plenty of good sleep is essential to your ability to obtain and maintain a healthy weight. At the same time, losing weight is a good way to improve your ability to sleep well.

Why? For a number of reasons.

First, overweight people are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, a condition that causes the sufferer to stop breathing for prolonged periods, as he or she sleeps. In many cases, losing weight actually results in the individual being cured of sleep apnea.

Another reason weight loss helps you sleep is because of the frequent link between being overweight and suffering back pain. While back pain is bothersome during the day, it can be extremely bad when the sufferer lies down to sleep, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay that way.
So whether you find yourself attempting to lose weight or get better sleep, you can't have one without the other!

Exercising in the A.M.

How getting up early gives you the advantage.

When the sun begins peaking over the horizon, you shouldn't be burying your head underneath a pillow, praying it will get dark and turn into night again. Instead, you should take advantage of the early hours to get in an hour of exercise. Why? Because the benefits far outweigh your desire to sleep in a bit.

Benefit #1: You'll Lose Weight

Exercising during any time of the day is proven to help you obtain and maintain a healthy weight. However, recent research hints that exercising in the morning gives your weight-loss goal an extra push. How's it do this? By improving your life a few ways all at once.

The first change is that working out during the first few hours of the day helps you sleep better, whereas working out in the evening can actually make it more difficult to sleep at night. Since healthy sleep habits assist your weight-loss goals, it only makes sense to want better sleep. Working out in the morning also helps your metabolism to get high early on in the day and stay there throughout your day. In addition, exercising early puts you in a healthy mindset from the moment you wake up, helping you make better decisions later in the day.

Benefit #2: You'll Stick with It

Another reason morning workouts benefit you is the ease with which you can stick with them. Whereas it can be difficult to find time during your busy day to squeeze in exercise, making exercise the first thing you do during the day ensures you get in some calorie-burning time no matter what the rest of the day may bring.

Think you may not have the strength to stick with an early morning exercise regimen? Remember that in addition to sleeping better, early exercising gives you increased energy and gets the blood pumping throughout your body. This helps you fire on all cylinders, whether you have a big meeting coming up or have to pull a double shift at the warehouse.

Benefit #3: You'll Get a Raise

As if an energy boost in the morning and increased metabolism weren't reason enough for working out in the morning, this early-morning fix-all may be just what your career needs. If you're skeptical, think about your attitude at work. Have you been down in the dumps? Too tired to go the extra mile?

Working out first thing in the morning may give you the boost you need to get past these issues. Once your boss recognizes your improved can-do attitude, your sudden willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty, and the infectious smile you carry everywhere you go, you may find yourself on the fast track to promotion. And to think-all of this just because you woke up a few minutes early for some running, weight lifting, bike riding, swimming, or calisthenics!

Creative Morning Routines

Getting your exercise every day is no easy task. Getting it in before the rest of your family is awake can be even more difficult-especially if you've not a morning person.

To make sure you get your fill of morning exercises, keep these tips in mind.

• Leave the car at home. Once you've eaten a healthy breakfast, hop on your bicycle or grab your running shoes and get to work the old-fashioned way by your own power. Just be sure to keep an extra change of clothes on hand so you don't have to wear your sweaty outfit all day.
• Do something fun. Everyone has different interests. To make sure you get up every morning and get in some exercise, make your routine fun. Whether you prefer kayaking, bike riding, or push-ups, implement this into your early morning routine and you'll have fun as you improve your health.
• Become specialized and start teaching. Wish there was a spinning class at 6 a.m. at your gym? Find some likeminded folks and work to become a teacher of the class. As a teacher, missing class isn't possible, so you'll be sure to get your routine in first thing in the morning, even when you'd rather stay in bed.

Perks of Pre-Pregnancy Workouts

Thinking of motherhood? You should hit the gym first.

So you think you want to settle down, eh? Time to have a family? Then you better be in good shape right now. Because while you know well the benefits of exercising during pregnancy, you may not be aware of the powerful perks of pre-pregnancy workouts.

When you think you're about ready to become a mother, remember to get fit first for these three reasons.

Easier Transition into Pregnancy Workouts

You know that exercising during pregnancy is great for you and the baby. But getting started in an exercise routine when you're pregnancy is no easy feat. To make it a little easier, you should go ahead and get in the habit of exercising right now, when you're not pregnant. That way, your body already craves exercise, and you become accustomed to going to the gym every day.

When baby begins to develop inside of you, your pre-pregnancy regimen will have already developed good habits in you. Now all you have to do is keep them up.

Easier Pregnancy

No, pregnancy is not an easy task by any means. It can be full of morning sickness, sleepless nights, and aches and pains. However, exercise can make pregnancy a little bit more tolerable. Thanks to your dedication to working out before getting pregnant, working out during your pregnancy is made a bit easier.

Not only does regular exercise help you sleep better, but it also improves your moods and helps you block out minor aches and pains that you may be dealing with on a daily basis. On top of that, exercising while pregnant helps your baby be as healthy as possible. But your willingness and desire to exercise throughout pregnancy is increased dramatically if you begin your workouts well before taking the pregnancy plunge.

Easier Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss

After baby has arrived, the purpose of your exercise shifts immediately. You're on a mission to regain your pre-pregnancy shape, no matter what it takes. Fortunately, your pre-pregnancy exercise routine makes it a little easier to return to your former glory. Because not only did you work out before your pregnancy, but your dedication pushed you to exercise throughout your pregnancy. And now that same determination will have you back in the gym after having your child, as you work to shed those pregnancy pounds.

Is it possible to never step foot in a gym and begin exercising after you've given birth? Of course it is. That doesn't mean you should. With pre-pregnancy workouts, you can prepare yourself for the rigors of staying fit during and after pregnancy, while helping keep your skin nice and tight, whether you're about to be pregnant, are in the middle of your pregnancy, or gave birth last week.

Making Baby Adjustments

When you begin pre-pregnancy workouts, you should push yourself to your limits. As you learn your body's ability, you can go a little longer with a little more intensity. But when you become pregnant, you'll have to re-evaluate your limits to avoid overdoing it.

Once you begin to develop a little bit of a pooch, you may not be able to go as long or as hard as you once could. You may also find it more difficult to maintain your balance the further along you get in your pregnancy. Instead of trying to force your body to submit to your demands, back off a bit to ensure the health and safety of both you and your baby.

If you've not exercise prior to getting pregnant, start as soon as possible. Just be careful when you enter your exercise routine that you take it slow and with great caution to avoid falling down or pushing your body too hard. The last thing you want is to be stuck on bed rest as you overcome an exercise-related injury. So exercise while you're pregnant, but be smart about it.

Investigating Alkaline Water

Is it absolutely fabulous or a fraud?

Imagine being able to turn your bad health into optimal health, regain the energy of your youth, and feel better than you have in years - all by drinking a little bit of water. It may sound preposterous, but it's what advocates for alkaline water claim.

If you've ever been approached about some of this seemingly miraculous water, you may have wondered about the real truth behind this H2O. Well, here it is.

Reasoning behind Alkaline

According to alkaline water drinkers, you can't have good health unless you have enough alkaline in your body. Otherwise, you will have too much acid in your body, which can lead to all sorts of health maladies affecting virtually any and every part of your body. The most obvious symptoms of an overly acidic system include fatigue, aches and pains, and low energy.

In order to combat these potential issues, alkaline water lovers insist all you have to do is drink some of the water they have to offer. It comes in all sorts of containers and sizes and you can even buy drops to add to your normal water to turn it into alkaline-strong water. But wait - there's more!

Some More Potential Perks

As if overcoming and avoiding fatigue and low energy weren't enough to get you in the mood for some pain-reducing alkaline water, it seems there are even more reasons to go for this improved water. It is also thought to help your body better use and absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. This means you not only feel better from the water itself, but your body is better able to keep you going strong even when you're not sipping on alkaline.

Top this off with an improved ability to age slower than your friends, and alkaline water seems to be more miracle cure than common household drink. But it still seems a bit too good to be true, doesn't it? After all, if something as simple as alkaline water could make you live longer and feel better, everyone would know about it and would be drinking it nonstop. Right?

What the Science Says

At this time, there is no scientific study that backs up any claims made by the alkaline-drinking public. There is, however, a bit of evidence that bone loss can be slowed through drinking alkaline water, but that research has not been maintained long term, making it difficult to determine whether a lifetime of alkaline water means a lifetime of bone protection.

Instead of alkaline water, you will get plenty of what your body needs by drinking regular old water out of the tap. And if you feel the need to decrease your body's intake of acid, you can always do it through a more cost-effective manner: your grocer's fresh food aisle. A few foods to avoid if you want to reduce your body's acidity include citrus fruits, red meat, coffee, and sugar. To boost your alkaline levels at the same time, eat spinach, peas, tomatoes, avocadoes, and almonds. If nothing else, these dietary changes will help you consume less fat and will result in better health, regardless of your thoughts on alkaline.

Battery Power

Your body isn't the only thing that is powered by alkaline. Many batteries are as well. Within an alkaline battery, a chemical reaction is required to produce the electrical energy needed to power your favorite electronics.

In an alkaline battery, zinc and manganese dioxide must react to set the energy production into effect. When these chemicals no longer react with one another and lose their charges, the battery is deemed dead and useless.

Cut The Calories In Your Drinks

And watch your waistline become the shape you always wanted.

For most people, calories are thought of in solid forms, via meat and potatoes, fruits and vegetables, and cake and ice cream. But if you're not careful, the liquids you drink each day can add hundreds of extra calories to your daily diet without you ever knowing it.

Which drinks should you be wary of during your daily grind?

Soda

One of the easiest ways to pile unwanted calories on is through soda of any sort. And while you may think that a diet soda is better for you (it does have fewer calories), many diet soda drinkers wind up drinking more soda as a result. Do yourself a favor by skipping soda and opting for water instead.

Fancy Coffees

Yes, they taste delicious and give your energy an instant boost, but that large café latte made with whole milk is also sending 265 calories directly to your belly. Chop the calories in half by downsizing your drink and making it a skinny, which is made with fat-free milk.

Sports Drinks

You work out pretty hard and are convinced that you need a sports drink to replenish everything your body loses as you exercise. Unfortunately, your conviction is nothing more than a response to good advertising. Unless you're exercising hard and heavy for 90 minutes or more, your sports drink is leaving you with many more calories than you burned during your routine. Keep your body hydrated the old-fashioned way: with water.

Sweet Tea

Though you may consider it the healthy alterative to soda, sweet tea packs nearly 200 calories in a meager 16-ounce bottle. Unless you're a professional body builder and have an extra thousand calories to use up every day, drinking sweet tea chops out a big portion of your daily calorie allotment without giving you much benefit.

Smoothies

Quite possibly the healthiest drink known to man, smoothies are both delicious and nutritious. However, if you work at a desk all day and don't take time to get to the gym, a smoothie a day may actually bring extra pounds your way. That's because while they are very healthy, they have hundreds of calories. Eat a daily smoothie each morning in addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you can easily suffer from calorie overload.

Alcohol

Whether you prefer lager or pina coladas, all things alcohol come with a calorie count that can easily be overlooked. To keep these calories to a minimum, watch the amount of alcohol you consume. Also, choose light beer, a small margarita, and the proper amount of wine instead of the excessive amount provided at many restaurants.

Beyond the Drink

In addition to what you drink, how you drink and what you combine with your drink can all add up to extra unwanted calories. With a few easy steps, you can sidestep hundreds of calories.

Prepare Properly. Certain drinks work well with certain foods. Unfortunately, soda and alcohol often taste best with greasy, unhealthy foods. Instead of falling prey to such figure-killing choices, have healthy alternatives readily available and train yourself to choose healthy foods in those situations.

Go Slow. If you're prone to drink three or four glasses of soda at a restaurant or don't shy away from multiple drinks at the bar, you can slow down your caloric intake by breaking between each fill. When your glass is nearly empty, ask for a glass of water and don't drink anything else until your water is gone.

Drive the Car. Have friends who enjoy getting a little rowdy at the local bar? Save yourself from joining in their calorie-rich alcoholic fun by being the designated driver. You keep your friends safe and get to hang out without worrying about adding to your calorie count.

Understanding Bipolar Disorder

The basics of an often misunderstood and frequently feared condition.

While bipolar disorder is often laughed about, it is no joking matter. It is also nothing to be feared. Rather, it is a condition that - if ignored, misdiagnosed, or mistreated - can have a tremendous impact on an individual's quality of life. Before you shy away from discussing the disorder or make a wisecrack at bipolar's expense, read on to find out the truth concerning this difficult to understand condition.

What is bipolar disorder?

Also called manic-depressive illness, bipolar disorder is a condition that takes root in the brain. Individuals with the condition suffer from incredible, immediate changes in mood, energy level, and ability to carry out ordinary functions of daily life.

Is it dangerous?

When someone is dealing with the constant ups and downs that accompany bipolar disorder, the result can be disastrous. From difficulty maintaining meaningful relationships to sudden outbursts at work or school, bipolar disorder can cause them all. Due to the sudden, powerful depressive bouts, people with bipolar disorder are also more likely to attempt suicide.

Who is at risk?

Everyone is at risk for suffering from bipolar disorder. While it is unclear what causes bipolar disorder to develop, researchers have determined that people with a family history of the condition are at increased risk for the disorder themselves. It typically begins to become symptomatic in the late teen years or early adulthood, but can develop and manifest in childhood.

What are the symptoms?

As mentioned previously, bipolar disorder results in sudden, dramatic mood swings, energy levels, and ability and willingness to function. Other symptoms of a manic episode include poor judgment, spending sprees, drug abuse, extreme irritability, increased energy, and feelings of restlessness. During a depressive bout, symptoms include feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, or guilt; decreased energy; disruption of sleep patterns; and suicidal thoughts or attempts. To be deemed a depressive or manic episode, an individual must experience multiple symptoms for prolonged periods.

How is it treated?

Currently, bipolar disorder is typically treated with a combination of medication and psychosocial treatments (often psychotherapy). For success, the treatment must be taken seriously and followed rigorously throughout life. Even with these treatments in place, it is not uncommon for bipolar episodes to occur. When this happens, people with bipolar disorder are encouraged to contact their physicians to tweak their treatment plans to prevent the episode from worsening.

What should be done during a bipolar event?

If you suspect someone is suffering a bipolar event, most important is to protect the individual suffering the event. Don't let him or her drive or operate heavy machinery and stay with the person until the episode passes. In the event the bipolar individual is threatening to commit suicide, immediately call 911 or an appropriate physician, and again - never leave him or her alone.

How constant an impact does bipolar disorder have?

Fortunately, while bipolar episodes will likely recur time and again during an individual's life, most people with bipolar disorder can lead normal, healthy lives between the episodes. However, some people suffer from residual symptoms of bipolar disorder and others suffer regular episodes, regardless of whether they're undergoing treatment or not.

Before Getting Control...you have to seek help.

No one wants to live with bipolar disorder. As a result, the condition is often ignored until it wreaks havoc on the bipolar individual's life. If you or someone you know has symptoms of bipolar disorder, don't ignore the symptoms.

Instead, encourage him or her to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. The idea of being tested for something with such a negative stigma is intimidating, but with the support of family and friends, people with bipolar disorder can do it and begin gaining control over their symptoms.

Once treatment begins, it may be helpful for the individual with bipolar disorder and his or her family members to join a support group. To find a support group in your area, contact your local hospital or your physician.

A Few of The Fattiest Foods

You may love these foods, but they're no good when it comes to your good looks and good health.

Need to hit the store or a restaurant to pick up something to eat? There are some things you'd be better off avoiding. What makes these foods even worse is that the fat found isn't just your everyday, run-of-the-mill fat. Much of it is trans-fat. These do much more than add unwanted weight to your arms, legs, and middle. Trans-fats are a highly dangerous fat that turns into cholesterol once in your body. In other words, these fats increase your weight and instantly increase your likelihood for suffering heart disease and stroke.

Here is where to watch for fat in the course of your dietary day.

Breakfast

Overflowing with 659 calories and 45 grams of fat, the Bob Evans Country Biscuit Breakfast may be the worst way to start your day. While it may taste good going down, the long-term effects of eating such an unhealthy breakfast counteract any happiness the flavor may provide. And if you're drinking soda with your breakfast, it's time to stop. There is no nutritional benefit to drinking soda, and when matched with the Bob Evans Country Biscuit Breakfast, you're setting your body up for a short and diseased existence.

Lunch

If you're heading out for lunch, you may want to steer clear of the Wild Buffalo Chicken Strip Basket at Dairy Queen. While you may expect chicken to be relatively healthy, these fried up goodies pack an 870-calorie, 96-gram punch. In the event you choose to take a drive to pick up some fries from another establishment, stay away from Jack in the Box's large order of Natural Cut Fries. Dipped in grease and fried to fattening perfection, they come with 300 calories and 33 grams of fat.

Snack

Between meals, you need something to keep your energy level on high. What you don't need is excessive fat. So stay away from Nacho Cheese Doritos. If you think there is nothing dangerous about those little chips, you may be surprised to learn that a single ounce (approximately 11 chips) has 8 grams of fat. Since you probably never eat a mere 11 Nacho Cheese Doritos, you're probably getting a lot more fat than you think. Oh yeah - there are also 140 calories in that tiny bag, another reason to steer clear of the chips.

Dinner

It may not be the fattiest dinner dish available, but the 12-inch Blimpie Veggie Supreme is listed here because of the cunning nature of the item. The Veggie Supreme sounds like a perfectly healthy option for you and your family. However, with 1,106 calories and 56 grams of fat, this sandwich is not nearly as healthy as its name implies. If you're hungry for a hoagie loaded with all kinds of goodness, you can easily cut the fat grams in half or more by making it yourself at home.

Dessert

If there's one food item to avoid purchasing, Baskin Robbins' large chocolate Oreo shake is it. Containing an amazing 2,600 calories (yes - that's more than you should eat in an entire day), 139 grams of fat, and 1,700 milligrams of sodium, this seemingly innocent after-dinner delight is one of the most dangerous additions to your diet. While it may look beautiful and taste fantastic, eating a large chocolate Oreo shake cannot be excused by anyone with a desire to live healthily

Swap It Up

Feeling down because some of your favorite foods are on the fatty list? Cheer up! With a few substitutions, you can easily make your favorite dish a little less fatty. Sometimes, all it takes is asking your server for a lighter option. At other times, you may need to request a food be cooked a different way (grilled instead of fried). In yet other circumstances, you may have to cook it yourself or change your order altogether.

Whatever it takes, remember - you're doing it for the health and longevity of your body, so any sacrifice you have to make is well worth it.