When you aren’t able to sleep, you aren’t able to do much else, either. This is a reality that many people have learned over the years. Whether your all-nighters stem from having a bit too much work to do and not enough time to do it, or perhaps from sick children who need a bit of support all night long, just about everyone can relate to experiencing a night of such little sleep that attempting to take on anything productive the next day seems just about impossible.

A night like this every once in a while is one thing; but if your regular sleeping habits are becoming interrupted, leaving you feeling sleep deprived and overly tired day after day, then your sleeping habits may also be interfering with your ability to maintain a healthy weight.

The Sleep & Weight Loss Connection

Your sleeping habits could be connected to your ability to lose weight for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include:

• The tendency to snack late at night
• Hormonal imbalances as a result of low sleep levels
• Attempts to regain energy by consuming sugary foods throughout the day
• High levels of stress that may cause overeating and insomnia

These are just a few of the ways in which sleep and your weight could be connected. Researchers have found that when you are having trouble losing weight, taking the time to improve your sleeping habits could have an almost immediate impact on your health.

How much sleep is necessary varies slightly person to person, but the answer is always between 7-9 hours per night. If you are sleeping much less than that on average, then there is a chance that your poor sleeping habits are interfering with your health and wellness goals.

You can try improving your sleeping habits by making small changes to your daily routine:

• Shut off your phone and television after dinner so that you have time to unwind before bed
• Clear your room of clutter and distractions so that you have a more restful place to fall asleep
• Try waking up a bit earlier and working out so that you can start your day with more energy and cut down on napping
• Eliminate as much caffeine as possible from your day, especially in the afternoon and evening

The decision to get weight loss surgery to help you reach your health and wellness goals should be a decision that ushers in other positive choices and healthy habits in your life. Improving your sleeping habits is a great way to get started on living a healthier lifestyle.