Sleep, Stress and Weight

[team-mom]

I've heard for years that how much you sleep and your stress level can affect your weight. What I'm wondering is how much of an affect do those things really have on a person's weight.

Here's why I'm wondering...

I've dealt with insomnia since I was a child. It is something that I've just learned to live with. I have never taken any prescription medication for it (just don't feel right asking for it). Melatonin helps on occasion but never for more than a night or two.

And...

My stress level has been through the roof for the last few weeks. I'm a military wife and have learned that life can be very unpredictable. My saying - It's the Army and nothing is guaranteed to happen until after it actually happens. We found out a while ago to be expecting new orders. Normally this wouldn' t bother me too much (except when its time for another deployment to a not-so-nice country). But this time it's been different. The last two or three weeks have been awful since we still hadn't received any word. I've been sleeping even less than normal and breaking down into tears a few times.

I'm now on day five of taking the phen - no weight loss to speak of yet. We found out yesterday about my husbands 'new orders'. Turns out that he's staying in his job for at least the next twelve months. This is great news! I actually slept for 5 whole hours last night and didn't feel like going back to bed after I got the kids off to school. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted.

What I am hoping is now that I'm calming down and not feeling so stressed (and hopefully going to have more peaceful nights) that I can now start to see some weight loss. If you have any insight into sleep/stress and weight, I would love to hear it.

[allylynn]

I think that what I have heard is that stress and lack of sleep raises a person's cortisol levels which encourages our bodies to hold weight. I have noticed that in myself. However, with that being said there are always the exception to all rules. Based on your question and your weight in your profile, you may be the exception. I have met a few people that under a great deal of stress lose weight like there is no tomorrow.

I do know that lack of sleep is terribly hard on the body. The body restores and heals itself during sleep. Continue to try to set up a nighttime routine that encourages your body to sleep and rest at night. Your body will be grateful for all your efforts the first few weeks you are successful.

Good luck!

[Almost back to me]

I honestly does effect it. I have had several sleep studies and the results always are that I dont sleep even when I am sleep......including the fact that I cant fall asleep before 3 and have to be up at 7. Although its easy to say to try to sleep.....but unless you REALLY know, you have no idea of how hard that simple saying is to do. When I stress about something, I can gain up to 13 lbs in a two week period, my eating doesn't increase...but my body weight does. So now I try breathing exercises and yoga....just things to give your mind a lil peace. I TRULY understand what you mean, you cant sleep at night and your sooooo tired in the morning and during the day and any stressful event of the day of month will stress you beyond belief. But I am learning to breath thru it....and me saying to myself "What doesn't kill, will make me stronger"! You have to find your center.....with everything, because even if try to ignore the stress......your body will ring a bell to let you know its there