Diet & exercise—together, the two have become synonymous with weight loss, but you may want to add one more thing to that conjunction after weight loss surgery: sleep. Tossing and turning at night can leave you drained of energy the next day, making you far more likely to skip your workout plans or seek a quick energy boost from food.
After weight loss surgery in Lubbock or Dallas, your waking habits aren’t the only ones that matter—you’ll need to balance healthy days with healthy nights. Lack of sleep can have a number of detrimental impacts on your health, including:
- Fatigue
- Anxiety and depression
- Difficulties with memory, learning and attention
- Reduced ability to react quickly and prevent accidents or mistakes
Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to get a good night’s rest. Forcing yourself to bed will likely only lead to more tossing and turning, so the best way to make sound sleep certain is to promote your body’s natural ability to fall and stay asleep by:
- Getting in a rhythm. Adhering to a schedule can improve your body’s sleep cycle. If you go to sleep and wake up at the same times every day (including weekends), your body will begin to adjust, which will naturally help you get more shuteye. Just remember not to force yourself into bed when you aren’t tired—if you’re still restless, take a few minutes to do something relaxing before settling in again.
- Cozying up your bedroom. Sleep should be the primary purpose of your bedroom, so make sure yours is the perfect sleep sanctuary. If your room is hot, bright, uncomfortable or full of distractions, you can’t expect to get a good night’s sleep. Try investing in blackout drapes, comfortable bedding, a fan and whatever else you need to cultivate the perfect environment for sleeping. Anything likely to keep you up or wake you up has got to go—this includes technological distractions like TVs, but may include pets as well.
- Watching what you eat and drink. You should already be used to this after weight loss surgery, but eating and drinking certain things just before bed can be a recipe for a sleepless night. Nicotine and caffeine have a stimulating effect, as does sugar. Alcohol can make us sleepy, but usually prevents us from sleeping deeply. Be especially careful of your dietary choices before bedtime and remember that even drinking water late at night can drag you out of bed to use the bathroom.
Diet, exercise & sleep—all three are crucially important after weight loss surgery in Lubbock or Dallas, so be sure you’re giving your nocturnal habits the attention they deserve. What helps you get a good night’s rest? Share your bedtime tips with us in the comments below!
