That's Fit

People make jokes about how it hurts to think, or that it's so exhausting sometimes it's just not worth it, and although we all laugh it turns out there may actually be some truth to those comments! Thinking too hard can actually make you tired.

It all comes down to the fact that our brains need glucose to work, and that when we concentrate we use up glucose faster than when we don't. And the older you are (keep in mind this was done with rats so take it with a grain of salt) the longer your glucose levels take to bounce back up to normal.

So now you can say how tired you are from thinking all day, and when people laugh just look at them, "I'm serious, man."

Here at That's Fit we're constantly touting the benefits of sleep -- it affects everything from how you feel, to how you look, to how you age (pretty much everything!). So with that understood I think we can all use all the help we can get on how to sleep better and make the most of it when we get the chance, so who better to get tips from but some of the most beautiful people in the world? Most celebrities look so good they must be doing something right in the beauty sleep department, right?

From tips on how to get to sleep if you have trouble to taking afternoon naps, celebs share all their beauty sleep tricks of the trade in this slideshow from iVillage. Have any that work for you?

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome hasn't gotten a lot in the way of respect over the years from the medical community, with patients complaining of being tired all the time (along with other symptoms) often being told to buck up and even sometimes teased that they may have "shirkers syndrome."

But that is all finally changing, as the CDC recently released research that links the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to genetic mutations and abnormalities, and have launched a $6 million dollar campaign to raise awareness about the disorder. CFS is about more than just feeling tired, and many other symptoms like memory loss and and muscle or joint pain often go along with it. Hopefully as we all learn more those who suffer from this debilitating condition can get serious help and real relief.

Not getting enough sleep, or getting poor quality sleep, can not only increase your risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression, but it also affects how you eat. The majority of people who report sleep problems also rarely cook for themselves and eat more convenience and fast foods than people who sleep just fine. These habits can lead to significant nutritional deficits and other related health problems.

I think this study is right on -- when I don't get enough sleep the last thing I feel like do is cooking! In goes the frozen pizza...

If you feel tired and worn down all the time, resting doesn't help, and exercise of any kind -- even just thinking too hard -- actually makes things worse, then you may be in with thousands of other Americans who suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome -- or CFS. The cause of CFS is not completely understood, and as of now there is no cure. But with treatment can you recover from it?

A recent study looked at whether Cognitive Behavioral Therapy was effective in helping people heal from CFS, and although the results were mixed the overall result seems to be that reducing symptoms is very possible and some can even fully recover. That's encouraging!

Previously studies have shown that medical residents who are tired perform poorly in areas of judgment and concentration, and that they're at increased risk for car accidents. This is an especially big issue partially because residents work such long hours and it predisposes them to fatigue and sleepiness on a regular basis anyway. The government did put some hourly maximums in place (80 hours per week and no more than 24 hours at a stretch) but the effect this had, be it positive or negative, really hasn't been studied until now.

Even this study, which looked at the resident's performance both before and after a 24 hour shift, is somewhat inconclusive and needs further investigation. It does seem to show, however, that medical residents are still working tired on a regular basis, which in turn puts them at major risk for making serious medical errors.

I really don't understand why, of all the professions, doctors specifically have this kind of demanding and impossible schedule -- people's lives are on the line!

People suffering from sleep apnea may soon have another option for getting better sleep. A new two-piece device called the Thornton Adjustable Positioner II (TAP II) is designed to hold the lower jaw forward while a person sleeps and has had positive results in reducing major snoring events per hour and also in helping to keep patients from running low on oxygen during the night.

There are more than 300 devices out there designed for this very purpose, but why not add one more? Snoring is an ongoing problem for as many as 45% of adults, so obviously there's always room for new and better treatments. Let's just hope this one doesn't become "random device number 301," and that it actually has a big impact and helps a lot of people.

Who isn't tired these days? I must read something about fatigue and energy on an almost daily basis, and although I have been better lately about getting enough sleep there are still those days where it just doesn't seem like it was enough.

But I found this article that touts itself as "a fool-proof plan" to fight fatigue and have more energy. Much of it is good sound advice that we've all heard before, like getting up at the same time each day and limiting carb intake. But a few things did surprise me, one of which was the advice to skip the coffee first thing in the morning, and instead have it later in the day -- like in the afternoon, when you really need it. Apparently caffiene works by blocking a sleep inducing chemical called adenosine that builds up as the day goes on, and by the time you hit your afternoon slump whatever java you had that morning has completely worn off.

So, thinking about this I don't think I can skip the morning cup, no way. But I can always add in an afternoon one!

For the complete "fool-proof plan," click here.

It's so easy, and so common, to feel run down and fatigued midway through the day. But instead of chugging coffee and Red Bull all afternoon, try some of these simple tips to stay energized:

• Know your own energy cycle. And then, of course, plan accordingly by doing challenging tasks when you feel the brightest, and routine ones when you're more mellow.
• Take care of yourself, and know what you need. Give yourself what you need, whether it's an early lunch or a walk around the block mid-afternoon. Do whatever you can to make it happen.
• Get enough sleep!
• Avoid stress when possible, and when it isn't do what you can to minimize it. Stress is one of the fastest ways to drain all of your energy.
• Get regular exercise
• Eat breakfast.
• Eat something every three hours.
• Include some protein at every meal.
• Limit sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.

And if no matter what you try you're still having problems then it may be time to consult with your doctor. Some physical conditions such as sleep apnea, hypoglycemia, heart problems, etc, can be very serious and cause feelings of low energy and fatigue.

If you feel tired or lethargic during workouts, you might be low on zinc. Zinc has always been known as an important mineral for immune system functioning and many other general body functions, but research suggests it may also play a major role in how much energy and stamina we have, and how sore we get, when working out. Usual dietary sources of zinc are oysters, red meat, and poultry, but if you're looking for other options fortified versions of cereal, granola, legumes, nuts, and wheat germ are also good choices.

"Restless Legs Syndrome," or RLS, has only recently become a more widely recognized disorder -- most people have seen the commercials on TV and ads in magazines by now. But new research shows that people who suffer from RLS may have more to worry about than just escaping that creepy-crawly feeling in their legs: they could be at increased risk for heart disease.

People who suffer from symptoms of RLS -- involuntary leg twitching or jerking and that generalized "restless, gotta get moving" feeling -- experience rises in blood pressure similar to those of people who have sleep apnea. And sleep apnea is a known risk factor for heart disease for that very reason.

As of now there is no cure for Restless Leg Syndrome, but there are things you can do to help lessen symptoms and decrease your risk -- see your doctor for advice.

It's a fairly common occurrence, and one that I know happens to me practically every day: the afternoon slump. I know a lot of people say they could never fall asleep in the middle of the day (no matter how tired they are) but I think I could totally get on board with the "siesta" idea if I could only get my boss to go for it. So far no luck.

Since napping isn't realistic, and hitting the vending machine or having a huge cup of coffee isn't doing the trick, I guess that afternoon slump will have to be beaten some other way.

Moving around is an easy way to not only prevent yourself from falling asleep (unless you're narcoleptic...) but to actually give yourself an energy boost. Whether it's genuine fatigue because you didn't get enough rest, or because your biorhythms just tend to take a dip at that certain time of day, depending on the severity of your fatigue the energy boost from movement may last for just a few minutes or hopefully through to the end of the day.

By now most people know that sleep is good for you, and that sleep deprivation is bad for you in more ways than one. Well a new study published online in Nature Neuroscience has found yet another negative side effect to add to the "not getting enough sleep" pile: sleep deprivation impairs your brain's ability to make new memories.

What's interesting is that I always thought the information was in there, but I just had trouble remembering it when I was tired. This study seems to show that if you're sleep deprived anything new you try to learn or remember really won't be there -- it doesn't get committed to memory. So no matter how much sleep you "catch up" on later, some memories from that sleepy day just won't exist.

Wow, this explains a lot.

Trouble sleeping? It's a huge problem affecting a lot of people every night. If you are someone who has problems with getting good shut-eye you've probably tried all kinds of things like adjusting your schedule and even medications. But have you ever tried a new mattress? Or even just taken a close look at how you're positioning yourself in bed?

One expert was quoted in this article saying "Most people don't know how poor their sleep is until they get a good mattress." So what is a good mattress? It's all about comfort and support, with firmer being better. The acronym SLEEP is a good way to remember how to shop: Select a mattress, Lie down on it, Evaluate how comfy and supportive it is, Educate yourself on it and what else is out there, and make sure you involve your Partner so they're comfy too.

There are all kinds of approaches to getting better sleep, and I think it's a combination of things for most people. But a new mattress is probably overdue for most of us, and it certainly wouldn't hurt to replace it.

Although lack of sleep can definitely cause dark circles under your eyes, surprisingly it's not the most common culprit. Any number of different things could be to blame, from genetics to sun exposure. The skin under the eyes is very thin, potentially reflecting the bluish tinted blood flowing underneath. I have had dark circles under my eyes for as long as I can remember, but some of the things that can make them appear worse surprised even me. Wearing glasses? Sleeping on your stomach? Dehydration? I really had no idea!

Treatment for dark circles varies, obviously, based on what the cause is. If lack of sleep is the problem, then you'll need to get more (true "beauty sleep"), or if it's seasonal allergies then maybe medication will help. Some things, like good 'ol genetics leaving you with thin "see-thru" skin in that area, can't be cured -- but it can be covered up with make-up pretty successfully.

And there are always home remedies that you can try at your own risk: almond paste, used refrigerated tea bags, and cucumbers have all been said to reduce the appearance of those "raccoon eyes." Unfortunately for me, I've tried everything and there's no hope for me but concealer! But maybe you'll have better luck.