Want to Lose Weight? Your Lack of Sleep May Be Keeping You Fat!

Wouldn't it be great if I told you that you can lose weight without exercise or diet? Well you can. The process is called "thermogenesis". Don't get me wrong, an exercise and nutrition program is going to be a part of any legitimate weight loss program, but you may not be able to get rid of stubborn abdominal fat if you are not getting 7-8 hours of quality sleep every night. There are several ways to improve your sleep and increase weight loss from burning body fat.



Visceral Fat
Visceral fat is the fat that collects around your internal organs. It protects the organs from blunt force trauma but when you store too much visceral fat, the result is a stubborn collection of fat around the middle that diet and exercise seem not to impact. With weight loss, fat is burned from general fat stores and you cannot target specific areas of excess fat storage. Exercises such as crunches and leg lifts to build abdominal muscles will indeed build muscle but they won't burn fat specifically from the abdominal area. The result then can be larger muscles with fat under, over and between them, making the tummy appear larger rather than smaller.

Thermogenesis
The word thermogenesis means to create heat and occurs when your body is in deep sleep. It keeps your body warm through a process stimulating BAT (brown adipose tissue) which converts fat to heat without going through the energy process. The visceral fat that collects around your organs is burned by thermogenesis by activating BAT. When in thermogenesis, your body is quite literally burning fat while you sleep.

Burn fat without exercise? Lets have more of that!

• One way to increase thermogenesis is to take melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone which increases the brain's sleep cycle. Melatonin is available in some foods like almonds but the amount is so small it is inadequate to the need. Melatonin supplements are available but pill form supplements do not work as they are inactivated in the stomach acids. A quickly absorbing liquid is the best alternative.
• Improve sleep practices to get 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night. Sleep in bed with lights out, without TV or cell phone.
• Keep the bedroom slightly cool to increase the need for body heat generation.
• Increase morning thermogenesis by drinking black coffee or green tea.
• Fish Oil Omega 3 (EPA and DHA) supplements for all day thermogenesis (not plant based).
• Exercise 15-20 minutes in the morning increases thermogenesis.

Cindy Hochart is a Registered Nurse with advanced degrees and is an experienced wellness professional with over 20 years experience understanding the connection between weight and chronic disease. Cindy has vast experience understanding your specific needs and goals and working with you to assure success.
For more information on how to lose weight fast and have lasting results. Go to http://cindyhochart.weebly.co