By Team Muscletrail
10 September, 2022
Everything You Need to Know About the Connection Between Fitness and Sleep
No matter how hard you grind it in the gym, if you don’t change the habits you have outside the gym for the better, your health will not improve. What you eat, drink, and how you sleep matters when it comes to building great health. Fitness and sleep have an inherent relationship. The purpose of exercising is to build lean muscle mass and improve cardiovascular health. Without adequate sleep, this purpose will not be met, according to medical studies and observances.
Among many fitness freaks living a fast lifestyle, the concept of sleep is underrated. Not prioritizing sleep can have bad consequences for the body in the long run. I have given an overview of the connection between fitness and sleep, and everything in between below:
Here’s What Happens When Your Body Sleeps
Your body heals during your sleep. While you’re sleeping, a series of healing processes begin in your body. A lot of energy conservation, muscle build-up, and repairing of the worked-out muscles happen during your sleep. Sleeping can accelerate the process of healing in your body, that is why doctors suggest people who are unwell to sleep and rest as much as they can.
The body also produces growth hormones when it is relaxed. This hormone is especially important for athletic recovery from wear and tear in the gym. With a well-rested body, you will also be able to perform better in the gym, and in other everyday aspects of your life. Studies show that even the mind functions better when you sleep at least 8 hours a day. People who are adequately rested are able to concentrate better and are more consistent with their fitness regime than the others.
And Here’s What Happens When You Don’t Sleep Enough
Sleep deprivation results may result in making it harder to stay consistently active or focused while exercising in the gym. People who sleep less also get tired faster than those who sleep adequately, and this affects their performance in the gym. Exercising can seem more strenuous and physically draining on the days when you don’t get enough sleep. On the other hand, lack of sleep doesn’t affect your physical strength or respiratory response while exercising. Endurance becomes challenging when you don’t sleep enough.
The Relation Between Fitness & Sleep
Top athletes around the world openly promote sleeping at least 8-10 hours a day. And adequate resting has a direct impact on their athletic performance, mood, vigour, energy levels, and endurance. According to scientific research, around thirty to forty-five minutes of aerobic exercise can even improve the quality of your sleep. Regular exercise can help improve sleep quality, the time it takes to fall asleep, and can lead you to wake up feeling completely refreshed.
People who are consistent with their fitness regimes also have better stabilized mood levels. Due to the endorphins released by the body after exercise, the body remains more alert, active and awake for around an hour or two after the exercise.
Conclusion
The conclusion is plain and simple - to improve your performance in the gym, and in life, you must complete at least eight hours of sleep. It will boost your performance, and thinking capability significantly. And for those struggling with sleeping efficiently - hitting the gym or doing any form of aerobic or anaerobic exercise can help improve the quality of your sleep.
Also Read: 10 SIMPLE WAYS TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Also Read: 5 TIPS THAT WILL MAKE YOU LEARN TO LOVE RUNNING
