Here's an interesting bit of news. :read: We know that for those wanting to gain muscle that steady regular sleep is vital. I've attached a link to a recent USA Today story reporting that sleep also affects the hormones that control our hunger. Less sleep means more cravings.

Dealing with cravings :eat: is a common topic on this site. Check your sleep habits.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-12-06-sleep-weight-gain_x.htm

EDIT: Here's a 5 min video for those who don't like to read :lol:

http://empire.healthology.com/hybrid-player/hybrid-autodetect.asp?b=empire&f=sleep_disorders&c=sleep_affecthealth&spg=TRNIMG


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From my personal experience, there is definitely linkage between sleep and cravings. It seems like a chicken-and-egg thing: which is cause, and which is effect? I am beginning to believe that conditioning is a big factor, too. That is, just whatever habits you have. It's like, my body won't let me sleep as much as I'd prefer, when I am in a season of eating less.

That makes intuitive sense, if you can go with the idea that we have a built-in survival reflex. Your body's feeling unaccustomed hunger, and it doesn't want you to starve. So it's compelling you to go and hunt for food. So it won't let you sleep.

So for a person who is trying to lose weight, who is drastically altering his eating habits, irregularity of sleep is a natural thing to expect, until there is a "new groove." Eventually, the body's homeostatic processes "learn" that you're not starving yourself, really, after all, and your body begins to "permit" more beneficial, appropriate sleep amounts.

Appreciate this post today. Timing was perfect for me, as I was just rambling in my journal this a.m. about how I want to up my sleep.

-Martin

Man, sleeping is crucial for weight lost. With lack of sleep, not only you feel weak, and unfocus troughout the day, you'll actually have more cravings (like yu said...) but the sad fact is, I can't get regular sleep. Not that I don't want to, but it feels like I have a mild case of insomnia or something (hope it's not insomnia) plus the fact that I have a part time job that requires me to stay awake usually until 11-12 midnight. Anyway, it's only 2-3 times a week...
But nice post anyway... :tu:

Never2old,

This finding made a lot of sense to me too. :nod: I find that if I ramp up my weight training too quickly (recently took up MAX-OT...jumped in with both feet) or drastically change my caloire intake, it will affect my sleep. Then I'll have several days of being irritable, craving all kinds of junk food, etc.

I had not seen reports of the link between sleep and hunger before but I can see now how these things work together...and how the relationship is confirmed in my own experience.

Don, I'm with you on the scheudule thing. My wife and I have a business that we run and sometimes we have to work late into the night or get up early. At least now when I have cravings, I'll be expecting them and know WHY I'm having them.


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