ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Day 7 is all about getting your Z's!  Like water, this is something I have NO problem accomplishing!

Study after study has shown that your body needs 7-8 hours of sleep to function properly AND if you do not get enough sleep it can cause you to actually gain weight!  Lack of sleep slows your metabolism, increases cravings, and can reduce the benefits of exercise by not giving your body sufficient rest to recover.

Here's what Food Lovers has to say about lack of sleep and how much it can mess you up:

"Sleep deprivation lowers the blood protein 'leptin' which is responsible for suppressing appetite, while at the same time raising the level of 'ghrelin', the substance that makes people want to eat . . . Sleep deprivation also increases levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that increases blood sugar, interferes with the memory, retards muscle building, impairs your immune system, and promotes abdominal fat . . . Additionally, one study showed that sleep deprivation severely affects the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates (glucose) - not only does that have dire consequences for weight loss but it can also lead to early stage type 2 diabetes."

While amount of sleep can effect your health so can quality.  I learned this while going through testing for sleep apnea.  My sleep doctor explained how sleep apnea prevents your body from getting into the realm of sleep where your body produces a growth hormone.  This hormone levels out insulin.  As we sleep, our insulin rises.  Without this growth hormone, it will continue to rise until it has no where to go but . . . yep, into your fat cells!

Who knew sleep was so important!  So glad I like it so much!