Sleep More To Maintain Lean Abs

If you losing winks, you may be gaining weight and heading further away from getting lean abs.

An ideal time to snooze is 9 hours and 25 minutes, according to a National Sleep Organization. I know that sounds so awful. But, not getting sleep alters the body's metabolic functions which can lead to weight and affect how the body process carbohydrates. I haven't mentioned that your abdominals are unable to grow efficiently. And when you are losing winks, you are more likely to down sugary foods and mega doses of carbohydrates to fight fatigued feelings. Here are some simple tips to lull you into dreamland.

If you are not getting enough rest, adjust your schedule to go to bed earlier tonight and for the remaining week. Next week, add another 15 to 30 minutes of rest to your daily schedule.

Additionally, you should eat dinner at least three hours before bedtime. Your body needs time to digest before bed. Our busy schedules often mean pushing dinner time until 8.30pm or later, which makes it harder to fall asleep and get a restful night.

Many people didn't know exercising one to two hours before bed can disrupt sleep. It will take you longer to fall asleep, and you will experience lighter ZZZs. But don't skip working out. Increased exercise improves sleep quality and is associated with falling asleep faster, especially for those who exercise in the morning.

Lastly, you should set aside worry time. If your mind starts fretting the minute your head hits the pillow, set aside some time before bed to write down whatever is bothering you in one column. In the other, write down the action you will take tomorrow. Do this activity in another room (besides the bedroom). Slip the list into a drawer to put it away for the day. If worries start creeping in once you hit the sack, use positive imagery to control worry.

Thought blocking is another helpful aid. Each time you start thinking about what's bothering you, tell yourself “Stop! I will deal with this tomorrow! Try focusing your attention on the color black. Whenever your mind wanders, bring it back to the black screen. Before you know it, your worries will give way to ZZZs."