Are you hungry for sleep?
By Michelle Biton
Do you
suffer from one of the most common physical complaints of pregnancy -
INSOMNIA?
If you
answered "No", consider yourself lucky and appreciate all of those long
hours of wholesome sleep you're getting.
If you
answered "Yes" - then welcome to the club!
As a
fellow pregnant insomniac, I'd love to be able to assure you that once
your baby is born you'll be able to enjoy that good night's sleep that
you've been craving - well, uh-uh sorry! Unfortunately (and I don't
believe this will be a shock), the sleepless nights don't stop when you
give birth.
The GOOD
NEWS, though, is that you do learn to cope better with
the lack of sleep (thank you hormones).
Did you know that a good night's sleep is a KEY ingredient
for keeping off those unnecessary extra pounds?
Yes,
believe it! In fact, research has actually shown that sleep deprivation
can lead to an increased appetite, which in turn leads to an increase in
food consumption and unnecessary weight gain.
And not
only do you end up eating more, but you also end up reaching for quick,
easy and non-nutritious food.
On top
of that, sleepless nights also leave you with less energy to exercise -
so it's a double whammy!
So, here are some TIPS to help you sleep better...
Try...
1.
Taking a luke warm bath before you go to bed;
2.
Keeping a journal of your thoughts (this will clear your mind!);
3.
Listening to relaxing music; and
4. When
you feel your insomnia coming on, move to a different location (the
couch worked wonders for me!).
Do not...
1. Eat
before you go to bed (unless it helps with your morning sickness);
2. Watch
the news or read the paper before you go to bed; or
3. Deal
with upsetting matters before you go to bed.
They don't call it "Beauty Rest" for nothing!
A good
night's sleep will also help you stay emotionally healthy - which is
CRUCIAL and necessary for any pregnant woman. And of course, sleep helps
you rejuvenate and repair from your hard day's work.
Healthy
adults need seven to nine hours of sleep every night to function well,
so do your best to get your quota!
Written by Michelle Biton who has 15 years of
experience as a Health and Nutrition Coach, a Masters Degree in Holistic
Nutrition, a Personal Training Certificate and a Psychology Degree.
For LOTS MORE tips and secrets on safe
exercise, healthy eating and surefire beauty secrets during your
pregnancy, click on the link below to download Michelle's kit:
Pregnancy
without pounds
|
