Sleep and weight loss - what is the connection?

This should probably be one of Shauna's topics, so Shauna I apologize ahead of time....

But I have been working day shift at the hospital 7a-7p and find that I am doing better at losing weight when I get enough sleep.  I have been doing some research and thought it would be a good time to bring it everyone's attention and see what the opinion is in NC.

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This is from WebMD:

Sleep loss appears to do two things:
1.  Makes you feel hungry even if you are full. Sleep loss has been shown to affect the secretion of cortisol, a hormone that regulates appetite. As a result, individuals who lose sleep may continue to feel hungry despite adequate food intake.

2.  Increases fat storage. Sleep loss may interfere with the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates, which leads to high levels of blood sugar. Excess blood sugar promotes the overproduction of insulin, which can lead to the storage of body fat and insulin resistance, a critical step into the development of diabetes.

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I have been consistently sleeping 8 hours a night and sometimes more over the past month and find that I am certainly able to make better choices than I did when I worked mainly night shift 7p-7a.  I feel more rested and no matter how many hours I slept when working nights, it never seemed to be enough.

So my question is;  How many hours of sleep do you get and can you tell a difference in your weight loss and management??

Shelia


 

I definitely can tell the difference when I get enough sleep and when I don't. My blood sugars go out of whack when I can't sleep and I never lose an ounce when I don't get at least 8 hours in and enough fiber in.

Sheila,  The more discussion topics the better!  I'm going to pass the torch here soon because I will run out! 

I TOTALLY agree with this info about sleep affecting weight loss.  Chronic dieter that I have been, I KNOW that if I have a sleepless night, the scale is going to be affected. 

My magic number seems to be 7 hours, but 8 is ideal.  If I can get a solid 7-8 hours a night, my weight loss, or stabilization, is much more successful. 

Twelve-hour shifts aren't good for the body. Period. I wish our employers realized this. As I mentioned in a separate post, I'm going back to work on Friday and I'm worried about how it's going to affect me. I'm a night shift nurse with a one-hour commute each way, so I *really* don't get enough sleep when I'm working. Plus, my job is hectic and stressful.

No answers here, just sympathy.

Shelli