sleep-related stories
Dr. Oz's Greatest Health Tips and Foods that Sabbotage or Improve Sleep: Links We Love
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Alternative & Green Health, Men's Health
At That's Fit and AOL Health we certainly love yoga (for weight-loss, to improve sex and more!), but Dr. Oz gave us one more reason to harness our inner-yogis: Loosening your muscles through yoga may mean you're less likely to injure yourself in your other fitness activities. Find 24 more health tips from Dr. Oz.
Got a case of the Monday afternoon slumps? Continue reading to find out why toast could help improve your sleep.
Ahh, the late-night fridge and cupboard rounds...Tempting though they may be, midnight snacks could hurt your chances of catching some Zzzs.
The Fix for Fatigue - Sleep or a Workout?
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| Photo: planetchopstick, Flickr |
Here's what you need to know about fitting in fitness and nixing the nap:
Morning is the best workout time. So get your body out of bed to jump start your metabolism, relieve your stress and improve your mood. It'll help you sleep better at night.
Late afternoon cardio is good too. It raises the body temperature above normal and then drops about four to five hours later, a signal to the body that it's time to sleep.
Avoid a vigorous sweat session after dinner. This is when you body needs to wind down, not gear up.
For more tips on sleeping tight, take a look at what AOL Health has to say about catching some quality shut-eye.
Advice for Sleep-Deprived Runners
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| Photo: Getty Images/Stockbyte Platinum |
I mentioned Moody and her ability to function well on little sleep to Dr. Lewis Maharam, sports medicine specialist practicing in New York and medical director of the New York City Marathon. "That's good for her," he said. "But generally if you're sleep deprived you're not going to do anything as well," he added.
Now, the idea that you actually need sleep to function optimally is probably a big no duh, but what is surprising is that what constitutes sleep deprived really depends on you. "Everyone is a research project unto themselves," says Maharam. "Some people really need eight and 10 hours of sleep, some only need six. It's up to you to figure out what you need to perform your best." Good news for you late-night TV fans, like myself: If you've been forcing yourself to go to bed earlier thinking that additional miles requires additional sleep that may not be the case.
Beauty Diet, Dining Out With Diabetes and How to Exercise for Better Sleep - Links We Love
Diet & Weight Loss, Fitness, Alternative & Green Health
Many of the foods that are good for your waist are also good for your body, looks and brain. Check out how to maximize these healthy foods from AOL Health's "Beauty Diet."
Dining out when you have diabetes doesn't have to be a disaster. Our restaurant guide will help you make smart food choices -- without sacrificing fun social eating.
Learn what moves to do -- and when to do them -- to get a better night's sleep in this photo slideshow of falling asleep tricks that actually work!
Crunches, Nia Vardalos and Smartslips - Week in Review - June 15 to June 21
Can certain foods really affect your mood? It's possible. Maggie tells us that eating photoestrogenic foods might help women control drastic mood swings.Stop doing those crunches! Or at least, do them in moderation. Instead, says Ashley, protect your back by doing exercises that strengthen your core.
Could you have hidden food allergies that are causing inflammation and making you fat? Jonny says it's possible, and he'll teach you how to find out.
Nia Vardalos on her weight loss secret: "I had a blood sugar problem so my Doctor ordered me to lose weight, it was really hard but I did it through diet, exercise and it took a year." Not much of a secret there, just good, old-fashioned hard work.
Are munching and crunching adding too many calories to your daily diet? Here are some ideas for curing those cravings naturally.
What will they think of next? Kristen tries out a Smartslip, kind of like a big resistance band worn under your skirt to tone your legs all day long. Would you wear one?
'Tis the season for flip flops, the world's most laid back shoes. Let AOL Health show you how to protect those tootsies while you wear your favorite summer shoes in style.
This Father's Day, help your dad be a vertical dad. That is, show him how to relieve stress by being on his feet and staying active, not reclining horizontally on the couch.
After you take Dad out for a hike or a bike, TCBY is serving up free yogurt. Jacki's got tips for keeping this treat healthy.
Can sleep improve your performance in the gym or on the field? We all know how important sleep is, so it's worth a shot to make sure you're getting plenty of shut-eye.
Night Eating - Bad Habit or Disorder That Can Cause Weight Gain?
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
That's Fit: Can you describe some of the clear signs and of having "Night Eating Syndrome" (NES) versus just having late-night munchies every so often?
Allison: Most people have some sort of snack in the evenings, but the difference is that, with NES, the eating is usually related to eating in order to fall asleep, and it usually affects the level of hunger during the first half of the day. NES is a disorder characterized [by] consuming more than a quarter of daily [food] intake after dinner and/or waking up at night to eat at least twice per week. People who have NES usually have little hunger in the first half of the day. They begin eating more as the day goes on and, after a while, feel resigned to the fact that they will eat more than they want to in the evening. When people are waking up [in the middle of the night] to eat, they usually do so about an hour or two after falling asleep. After a while it becomes "automatic," where they feel drawn to eat as soon as they wake up.
Sleep The Extra Pounds Away
Fitness, Celebs & Entertainment, Nutrition & Supplements
Bad news, insomniacs: Sleepless nights can lead to weight gain and even obesity. But knowing you need to get more sleep is one thing -- it's an entirely different story when you find yourself between the sheets tossing and turning, stressing about the fact that you just can't sleep. If slumber sometimes eludes you, here are a few healthy habits you can adopt to help you get more rest -- for the sake of your sanity and your waistline:
- Get some exercise. It helps -- really, it does! Exercise helps burn off energy, which helps you fall asleep. In fact, most diligent exercisers will tell you they have a really hard time falling asleep if they don't exercise.
- Do Yoga. It helps calm the mind and relax the muscles, which is exactly what you need when you're settling down for a snooze.
- Drink tea. We're talking herbal tea, of course. A warm cup of herbal tea is a great way to wind down before bed. An added bonus? It's naturally calorie-free.
- Don't drink coffee. Well, you can, but make sure you cut yourself off at around 3 p.m. for sure.
- Eat light. A big meal before bed will keep you up well into the night, so keep it small and simple when you're noshing in the evenings.
Sleep Yourself Skinny - This Week on AOL Health
Diet & Weight Loss, Motivation
Do you think your sleep habits affect your weight loss?
Fit for a Nap? Your Gym Might Have a Class
Raise your hand if a nap sounds pretty darn good right now. Yeah, I'm with you. But really, even though we all know it's good for our health, it just never happens, does it? Unless, of course, you happen to belong to a gym that offers a napping class (which, by the way, our own Fitz was calling for two years ago).I'm serious -- some gyms truly are implementing a napping class. But it might not be quite what you think. If you've ever taken a yoga class, you're probably familiar with the intense relaxation that comes at the end of class when you reach Savasana, or Corpse Pose. And sadly, that pose usually only lasts for a few minutes.
More and more yoga classes are beginning to incorporate longer periods of this deep relaxation. At select Equinox fitness clubs, for example, members can take part in a 45-minute PowerNap+ class, which starts with light yoga and cardio and ends with 15 minutes during which they can relax or even sleep. In fact, the instructor covers members with a blanket and rubs lavender on their foreheads to encourage a little shut-eye. It's not yet available in all locations, but I wouldn't be surprised to see more of them pick the class up.
Go to Bed Hungry
Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements
Feeling your tummy rumble just before you head to bed? Then step away from the kitchen and go to sleep.
Slim Down for a Good Sleep
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Count me in as one of the thousands of people who suffer from frustratingly chronic insomnia. It seriously sucks, man. But want to know one of the best ways to ensure you get a good night's sleep every night? Watching your weight is key, according to a recent reports.We told you earlier today that sleeping can help you slim down. Now we're telling you slimming down can help you sleep? Sure enough. Researchers found that people who consistently had a hard time sleeping were able to get more slumber when they were following a diet that was lower in calories. Additionally, once they reached a healthier weight, their sleeping patterns were much more regular. And sleeping disorders like sleep apnea and even snoring were less prominent and even cured with weight loss.
Well, that's certainly something to think about while you're tossing and turning tonight, huh?
Sleep Diet - Snooze Your Way Slim
Can sleeping make you slim? Yes, it can. Glamour magazine editors put seven women on a sleep diet and found, to their astonishment, that the gals lost between six and 15 pounds over the course of 10 weeks.The women were told not to purposefully change their diet or workout routines (well, except for a couple of beverage bans) and to focus simply on getting 7.5 hours of sleep per night. And so they did. And a funny thing happened: While they didn't try to change the way they ate or exercised, the extra slumber gave them extra energy. As a result, they started eating better and moving more. Subconsciously, then, they changed their lifestyles.
Hollywoods Hottest Diets
Post-Holiday Hottie
The average person is bound to feel a little guilty after some holiday overindulging, and maybe even resolve to lose weight in the new year. But Gwyneth Paltrow's post-holiday binge is far from ordinary. Her seven-day elimination diet consists of liquid meals and snacks (think room temperature lemon water, coconut milk and the occasional handful of berries and almonds). In her newslettter, she doles out detox advice: "I like to do fasts and detoxes a couple of times during the year, the most hardcore one being the Master Cleanse... It was notpretty. Or easy. It did work, however." Paltrow cautions that her doctor doesn't recommend the Master Cleanse since "the liver is not supported by the nutrients it needs." She says her version diet is designed to be a "good detox" but that before following hers, or any other, you should check with your doctor. We couldn't agree more.
Alexander Tamargo, WireImage
By Jennifer Fields
Alli Spokeswoman
Known for her country music, famous family and a much-covered struggle with food addiction and weight issues, Wynonna Judd is the new face of the weight-loss drug, alli. Of her new gig, Judd has said, "Alli has allowed me a sense of well-being," says Judd. "I've passed up a lot of products, but with alli I have choices over what I can eat and flexibility; it fits into my schedule. The fact that it is FDA-approved really struck a chord with me because that means it has been thoroughly tested and is safe."
PRNewsFoto/GlaxoSmithKline
Clock Watcher
To get into fighting shape for "Blade: Trinity," Jessica Biel followed a strict diet that banned sugar, dairy, flour and salt. To keep her metabolism revved up and to get her through an intense workout schedule, Jessica has said she would eat several small meals every few hours, similar to the 3-Hour Diet.
Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage.com
Whole Foodie
How does a middle-aged singer with three children maintain such a phenomenal physique? In addition to engaging in hours of daily punishing workouts, Madonna adheres to a strict macrobiotic diet, which is based on the idea that food and food quality affects health, well being and happiness. The diet focuses on whole, unprocessed foods and is low in fat, high in fiber and rich in vegetables and soy.
Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage.com
Dream Body
Beyoncé may be known for her curves, but the star has said she lost 20 pounds on the ever-trendy juice fast, the Master Cleanse, for her role in "Dream Girls." The fad diet (also called the Maple Syrup diet) consists of drinking a concoction of syrup, lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper.
In the Zone
When she starred on "Friends," Jennifer Aniston reportedly turned to the Zone Diet. On this plan, Jennifer would aim to have her diet consist of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent protein and 30 percent fat. The Zone's founder claims this ratio will rev your metabolism.
Bryan Bedder, Getty Images
Carb Cutter
J.Lo has said that her only diet is a strategy of eating anything she wants in moderation. However, it has been reported that when Jenny wants to drop some weight, she cuts out the carbs in a strategy similar to the Atkins Diet.
Frazer Harrison/, Getty Images
Former Fat Actress
The former star of "Cheers" was the face of Jenny Craig's diet plan from 2004 to 2008. Kristie Alley is said to have lost 75 pounds on the program before stepping down as spokesperson. She's even written about the experience in a book called "How to Lose Your Ass and Regain Your Life."
Will Powers, Getty Images
Rockin' Robin
Though this popular plan promises you'll lose 21 pounds in 21 days, radio personality Robin Quivers lost nearly 25 following the Martha's Vineyard Diet. The strict diet involves consuming juice, tea and soup and having regular colonics and other spa treatments.
Stephen Lovekin, WireImage.com
Less of the Prez
The former prez's love of fast food was the subject of many 'Saturday Night Live' sketches. After leaving office, however, Bill Clinton began to cut back on the junk and lost roughly 35 pounds on the South Beach Diet, which emphasizes whole grains, lean meats and discourages bad fats.
Rolf Klatt, WireImage.com
Fat - It's Complicated
When you step on the bathroom scale and it registers a higher number than it should, you probably chide yourself for eating too much and moving too little. And, while I am certainly the last person to let you off the hook for flagrantly abusing the first law of thermodynamics, I do think it's important to understand that physical activity and diet – what researchers refer to as "The Big Two" – are probably not entirely the reason more than 60 percent of Americans have trouble zipping up their pants.
Scientists increasingly suspect that the worldwide epidemic of excess poundage has other contributing factors. Thought I'd share three of the more surprising ones with you this week, just to give you a sense of how complicated this issue truly is. Once you read this, it's OK to stop judging yourself so harshly, but promise me you'll eat a piece of fruit and go for a brisk walk anyway!
Heavy Sleepers
Lack of shut-eye appears to be strongly linked to obesity, probably because it has an effect on the hormones that control metabolism. Numerous studies tie short sleep to larger size. In one decade-long study of 740 people, Laval University researchers in Quebec found that men who reported getting seven to eight hours of slumber per night were 16.5 pounds lighter than those who said they only caught five or six hours of sleep nightly. Women who got a full night's rest were more than 11 pounds thinner than those who didn't. So it seems likely that getting a good night's sleep will help your weight loss efforts. At the very least, you'll be less groggy when choosing between oatmeal and ice cream dippers for breakfast.
Chocolate - Is it Keeping You Up At Night?
A lifetime of insomnia issues has made me compulsively careful about my habits. In the interest of getting a good night's sleep, I try to exercise daily, resolve stressful issues before bedtime and keep my bedroom free of distractions. Oh, and I never, ever have caffeine after 3 pm. A diet coke, a cup of tea -- if it's got even a trace of caffeine in it, it's not going into my mouth at night. Sadly, I might have to cut out chocolate before bed too. According to The New York Times, a bar of dark chocolate can have the same amount of caffeine as a cup of instant tea -- about 30 milligrams. That's not all -- dark chocolate also has theobromine, a known stimulant that has been linked to sleeplessness.
The silver lining? This is only true of dark chocolate. White chocolate, on the other hand, has no caffeine or theobromine, but it does have a lot of sugar.
(via Fitsugar)
In 2009, Resolve to Sleep In
I'm willing to venture a guess that very few of us can claim to get enough sleep. I don't know about you but I am just too freakin' busy to always get eight hours a night, though I try my darndest and do pretty well most of the time. But maybe this year, it's time to make sleep a priority -- I'm starting to think that there's nothing a proper sleep can't do, short of bringing about world peace, and maybe it could even do that if all the leaders in the world were taking afternoon naps.Recent studies show that getting enough sleep can reduce your risk of heart attacks. Getting the proper amount of sleep can help you lose and maintain weight, control cravings, even out your metabolism and manage hunger-inducing stress better. So while work, chores or that latest episode of Lost might seem more pressing, you're better off getting some shut-eye. You'll thanks me when you slip on those skinny jeans.
