When you have a busy schedule, it’s easy to let sleep be the first thing to neglect. Healthy sleep habits are an integral part of any healthy lifestyle. While poor sleep can affect your metabolism and hormone levels, lead to weight gain and may even be the result of an untreated sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea.
Problems Associated with Poor Sleep Habits
Poor sleep essentially means getting less than the optimal amount of sleep at night. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll likely feel groggy in the morning, fatigued throughout the day and have difficulty paying attention. Some other problems associated with poor sleep include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Irritability
- Memory problems
- Inability to multitask
If you’ve formed the habit of going to bed late and getting four or five hours of sleep every night, expecting coffee to get you through the day, you’re doing yourself, your body and your health a disservice. Getting the right amount of sleep can benefit your mental health as well as your physical health, and it can be a beneficial part of your weight loss goals after weight loss surgery. However, if you frequently have difficulty falling asleep or someone has told you that you snore excessively or even stop breathing when you sleep, you may have a sleep disorder and should see your physician to get a proper diagnosis.
Tips for Healthy Sleeping
Here are a few tips for improving your sleep habits after bariatric surgery:
- Create a sleep schedule. Setting a bed time and wake up time will help you to feel more refreshed and invigorated during the day.
- Avoid napping during the day if you can help it. It can make sticking to your sleep schedule difficult.
- If you aren’t already, cut down on the caffeine, specifically in the evenings. Caffeine can actually affect your sleep up to ten hours after drinking it, so stopping after lunch is recommended.
- Quitting smoking can improve sleep. Since nicotine is a stimulant, it can disrupt your sleep, putting you into nicotine withdrawal in the middle of the night.
- When it’s time for bed, turn off any distractions like the computer or television at least thirty minutes before you want to be asleep.
Suggested Reading
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Also In This Section
- Sleep Better after Weight Loss Surgery
- Getting Active in the Cold
- How to Boost Your Health After Weight Loss Surgery
- Setting Realistic Goals After Surgery
- Eating in Restaurants After Weight Loss Surgery
- Can Being Overweight Hurt You in the Workplace?
- Strategies to Add Activity and Burn Calories after Bariatric Surgery
- Weight Loss Medications: Barriers to Acceptance
- Your Joints and Osteoarthritis
- Benefits of Pilates after Weight Loss Surgery
- Reasons You’re Not Exercising – And What to Do About It
- Setting Goals for Weight Loss
- Walking to Lower Blood Pressure
- Staying Motivated after Weight Loss Surgery
- Exercise for Brain Health
- Boosting Your Mood after Weight Loss Surgery
- Healthy Shopping after Weight Loss Surgery
- The Best Foods for Protein
- Strategies to Prevent Weight Re-Gain
- Considering a New Exercise Program? When to Check-In With Your Doctor First
