Staying fit can be quite the task, we know. Not only are we putting hard earned hours in at the gym each day, but we’re watching what we eat, what we drink, when we consume these things, and balancing it all with an entire onslaught of other crucial factors.From what kind of shoes we should to be wearing for the WOD, to whether or not Apple Cider Vinegar is actually worth it. A proper fitness routine certainly has a lot going on.
And then there’s this ever elusive focus on sleep importance.Like seriously, the universe thinks we’re some kind of time managing god or something. As if eight hours a night is just soo easy… and is this really even enough?Rest assured guys, here at WANDERFIT Ventures we are constantly going through the same struggles. That’s why today, we’re going to provide you with all the information you’ll need on the sleep importance for your healthy lifestyle.
This first one, maintaining a healthy state of mind, might seem like a no brainer. But nonetheless, it is absolutely crucial. Studies across the board show that upwards of 80% of individuals dealing with depression issues have inadequate sleeping patterns.And even if we aren’t technically depressed, I think we can all remember a day where we were just way too tired to throw on some fake smile. We’ve all been there, and we all know how horrible such a feeling is. It’s important to stay on top of the game here guys, plan ahead, and ‘sacrifice’ those unnecessary long nights out.I mean, is properly looking after your own mental health even actually a ‘sacrifice’?
We also want to be taking care of our physical health, correct?Of course we do! Lovely and fit human beings that we are.There has been many a research conducted in regards to the relation between heart disease and sleep importance. Proper sleep is imperative for the maintenance of a healthy heart. This time frame, yes between seven and nine hours a night, is when our heart rate and blood pressure both get to lower themselves and ‘relax’ a bit.[perfectpullquote align="right" bordertop="false" color="#B5FF33" size="20"]..between seven and nine hours a night![/perfectpullquote]Think about it, our hearts are pumping blood throughout our body all day every day, from the time we are born until the moment of our death. It’d be like running a never ending marathon, literally for all of eternity. If someone gave you an opportunity to run a little slower for 8 hours a day, you’d be pretty excited wouldn’t you?Let’s take care of our heart guys, and give it some much needed rest. This way, when we really need her to get us through that next round of Helen or the crazy 8’s, she’ll be ready to provide us with that extra push.
Maintaining a generally low blood pressure, as a result of our focus on sleep importance, is also going to help us in eating less food, and resultantly acquiring less of that unwanted fat buildup. People with a shorter sleep duration have a higher tendency for increased body fat percentage. In one study it was shown that adults with a reduction in sleep faced a 55% increase in obesity. In adolescence that number skyrocketed to 89%.
Poor sleep, that is, a lack of quality energy, is naturally going to make your body feel like it needs more energy. And how do we easily acquire said energy?Calories! We eat, that’s what we do.With that, let us also acknowledge that in these moments we often pursue some incredibly unhealthy snacks. Those high in sugar content are going to give us a real nice boost, real quick like. A pick-me-up to make it through the next little bit, right?Come on, we all know that this is the exact opposite of what we want in our fitness routine. Again guys, let’s plan ahead here and get a good night’s sleep.
Mentally dealing with fighting these urges is also going to be significantly easier with a proper night’s rest. Studies repeatedly show that inadequate sleep patterns have a direct effect on one’s own ability to control basic impulses. Such as thinking that you need that RedBull. Or perhaps it’s something even bigger. Perhaps its a project at work, or a struggling relationship, or some other difficulty in your social life? Chances are high that processing the information pertaining to such a situation will become increasingly more simple, with the introduction of a more adequate sleep pattern. You’re going to have more energy, naturally. Which is inherently going to bring you an increased desire to exert this energy in a productive fashion. Let’s get some good sleep guys, it's only going to help!
Especially, in our actual physical application of this fitness regime.Certainly, let’s not forget to address this sleep importance as it affects our body’s ability to perform. We put in hard work to make gains, both for an increase in strength and aesthetic appeal. But neither will be accomplished to any significant degree, if we do not set a high value system around our focus on sleep importance.
When we speak of building muscle our mind often goes straight to some vision of a back-squat or perhaps bicep curl. But the truth is guys, in such moments we are actually doing the exact opposite of building muscle. In these moments, we are literally tearing our muscles apart.So when are we building them?Our muscles are building, growing larger and stronger, through the recovery process. And yes, you guessed it, the largest component of this recovery process is sleep.Human Growth Hormone is released at the onset of falling asleep and resultantly initiates a rapid muscle recovery process. Crucial to an enhanced muscle development. The process of protein synthesis also initiates in the later portion of a proper night’s rest. A process one can further elevate if consuming healthy proteins right before bed.All in all guys, acknowledging and focusing on sleep importance is necessary if you wish to properly maximize your training regimens potential. Develop a plan, set a bed-time, and initiate some end of the day rituals. Get a proper 8 hours, atleast, and help yourself in truly becoming all that you are capable of becoming!With that, we’ll see ya in the box for tomorrow’s WOD, after a good nights rest.
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