I used to have a nightly routine of wandering into the kitchen, searching for something to satisfy my sweet tooth. If there weren’t any treats available, I'd grab whatever was around, like a handful of chocolate chips. That initial nibble rarely satisfied me; it often led to salty snacks like pretzels or chips meant for my kids. Before I knew it, I'd consumed an extra 500+ calories.
Back then, I thought late-night snacking was about willpower and discipline. I didn't realize the importance of other skills like setting up my kitchen to support healthy habits. Sleep wasn’t on my radar—I thought it was all about self-control.
Fast forward to today: I've learned a lot. Simply prioritizing bedtime had a profound impact on my late-night eating habits.
Late-night snacking isn't just about willpower—it's often a symptom of deeper, unmet needs. Prioritizing sleep lets our bodies recover and reset, leading to fewer cravings, better food choices, and overall well-being.
Most people need at least 7 hours of sleep per night, often times more. Sleep is your body’s recovery time. Not only does it build up and replenish your body's immune, nervous, skeletal, hormonal, and muscular systems, it also regulates your metabolism and has a big impact on your blood sugar and insulin levels.
Here are 3 GOOD reasons to start taking your sleep seriously:
Getting enough sleep has been shown to increase feelings of happiness and well-being! 😃
Getting enough sleep can lead to fewer food cravings and help you make better food choices! 🥗
Just like my experience, ever noticed how staying up late often leads to unhealthy snacking? Getting enough sleep leads to less temptation. Staying up late means more temptation to snack, and it’s usually not the healthy kind of snacks. Are you going to eat grilled chicken and steamed veggies at 11:30 PM, or are you more likely to go for less nutritious options? 🤷♀️
Since prioritizing sleep, I've noticed a huge difference in my own late-night cravings and overall well-being. What’s been your experience?
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