I'll admit it, this article is a step away from my usual articles on fitness, nutrition and fat loss tips.
But sleep is an underrated tool against the war on body fat.
Many people have trouble sleeping.
Let me clarify that statement...
many folks have trouble getting quality sleep.
And getting quality sleep is extremely important for our health.
You see, we need proper amount of deep sleep to get optimal hormonal balance and to keep our peak metabolism.
And getting good sleep means we will burn more fat and be healthy.
Not getting enough sleep on the other hand means your metabolism and hormones get messed up and actually makes you fatter! And unfortunately, many studies have shown that most people don't get enough sleep and enough "deep" sleep.
So let's cover some of the reasons why a lot of folks cannot sleep well at night.
For one is we toss and turn all night long due to the stress and events that occurred during the day.
I'm guilty of that myself...
However, I learned a few tricks which I will reveal to you how to take back the control of the night time sleeping.
one) Do not do any intense activities at least two hours before going to bed.
But...
regular and effective workouts during the day is absolutely a good idea to help you sleep better.
two) Don't go to bed hungry.
And if you do it because you think you will lose weight...
that is a myth that should be thrown under the bus.
Just eat a small meal of quality proteins, carbs and good fats before going to sleep.
Don't eat junk food -- that would be counterproductive! Satisfying your hunger pangs will help you fall asleep easier.
three) Don't drink coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages after 3 pm in the afternoon.
Wel, duh! No explanation should be necessary.
four) You CAN however, drink non-caffeinated teas before going to sleep.
Like chamomile or mint tea.
These teas are relaxing and calming.
You may even want to add a touch of raw honey to your cup of tea.
five) I've never tried it but have heard that taking capsules of ground nutmeg 1-2 hours before bedtime may be beneficial.
The nutmeg is supposed contain components that will calm you down.
If you cannot find the capsules of nutmeg...
you can make them yourself.
Just grind up some fresh nutmeg and put in empty capsules.
And just take a couple (1-2 hours before bedtime) and see how you feel.
I think it is worth a shot if sleeping is something you have trouble with.
six) Clear your mind before going to bed.
One of the things I do religiously is write down on a pad what tasks I need to do the next day.
This way...
I don't have to worry about forgetting them and staying up all night...
Another trick you can do is to relax on your back with a pillow under your knees...
close your eyes and imagine a relaxing scenery.
Add details...
do this for a few minutes before falling asleep.
Try all or some of these sleep tips I just gave you.
However, try as much as you can...
to do it naturally.
That is...
avoid taking prescription drugs and drinking if you can.
After all -- it isn't natural but that should be left up to you.
Oh yeah...
I won't tell you to go to the extremes and pull the plug on the TV (although I haven't watched any movies or TV in over two years).
But watching late night TV should be avoided.
Hopefully, you will find that you are sleeping longer, deeper and becoming leaner!