Everyday Systems

I saw these interesting articles on how getting enough sleep is linked to appetite and weight.

Turns out sleep affects your diet/weight in at least three ways -- regulating hunger hormones, affecting glucose tolerance, and regulating endocrine function.

http://wral-tvhealth.ip2m.com/index.cfm ... e_Cat_ID=1


http://wral-tvhealth.ip2m.com/index.cfm ... _Cat_ID=33

The study findings sure do correlate with my personal experience, which of course is merely anecdotal, that it's tough to eat right if I haven't had enough sleep; and much easier to stay on plan if I have had lots of refreshing sleep.

No wonder it's so hard to lose/maintain weight at middle age.

*yawn*

And, of course, each hour I'm asleep is an hour that I'm *not* eating.

I'm sorry to hear that. I am a major insomniac. Every doctor I've seen I've left scratching his head with no solution except addictive meds and a subsequent trip to the Betty Ford Center to get off them and then wind up back to Square One.

I had tried every homegrown, herbal, natural, unnatural solution currently known to mankind. And nothing. Zilch. Even melatonin makes me hyper!

So, vigilance in the eating arena is paramount for me.

Wide eyed at 3:00 am,
Peetie

Aww, poor Peetie. I can imagine that really must make things tough for you in any number of ways. Anyone with insomnia has my sympathy.

I have sleep trouble, too. I fall asleep with reasonable ease (thank goodness, most of the time), but my problem is I will read in bed (or worse, delay getting into the bed) until the wee hours ... I just seem to procrastinate going to bed ... and then I am miserable the next day. I've been doing this for years and no strategy I've tried seems to work to break this habit. It's really taking a toll and I must stop.

Try shoulder stand... or a supported shoulder stand...
Do this sometime in the afternoon and maybe before you go to bed..
Put your legs up on the wall so they are just hanging up over you....
Let the blood drain out of them, and let it bathe your inner organs with fresh blood..
Your consciousness is in your blood, according to Chinese medicine, so when you are able to bring that blood back into your core, it helps calm the mind...
Good luck Peetie and Betsy!
"Homegrown" Peetie???? LOL....
Please make me some brownies with your homegrown remedy one day!
LOL...
ps.. If you are reading this, you have to stop and go to sleep right,,,,,,


NOW!
LOL..
Love,
Deb

Thanks, Deb. I'll try anything at this point as long as it isn't illegal, immoral or fattening. Well, maybe the last two, but I'd look awful in an orange jump suit.

Love,
Peetie

Peetie:

Rodney Yee has a really good PM Yoga CD. I have it if you want me to send it to you.

Dru

Dru,
Thank you so much. Is it actual yoga moves or just listening? I do find all that zen stuff so, well, zen!

Peetie

Hi Peetie.

Yes it's an acutal yoga tape and if you have props (bolsters or blankets) that makes it all the better. It is restortive yoga with an emphasis on deep relaxation. I think I fell asleep the first few times I did it.

Let me know if you want it. (I've packed it now but can retrieve it next week!)

D.

Dru Rocks!!!!!
Spreading the Yoga throughout the land!
Love,
Deb