7 signs that you are not getting enough sleep

Are you getting enough sleep?

Recovery is one of the most misunderstood aspects of physical fitness. Did you know your muscles actually grow while you rest?

I am not going to lie I like sleep. I need my good 8 hours of sleep. There was a time when I thought I should be a cat because they sleep ALL THE TIME! Here is one of my kitty cat taking her 5th nap of the day.

The truth is that I did not realize how important sleep was to my fitness regimen. One of the first benefits I had from following the program and taking Shakeology was my energy level. I was waking up refreshed and I had a ton of energy throughout the day. For the first time in a long time, I was able to check off all the items on my to do list.

I felt so energized that I started going to bed later and getting up earlier. What else was I supposed to do with all that extra energy? Very soon though I felt that my results from the program were slowing down AND I was hungry all the time.

I came across this article and it all made sense. I was not getting enough sleep. According to the article sleep is important because it helps with muscle growth. This is when my body repairs and builds so to speak.

How to know if you are not getting enough sleep? Here are a few clues:

- Hitting the snooze button consistently on your alarm clock

• Yawning uncontrollably and at inappropriate times (e.g., workplace meetings, parent-teacher conferences) Who wants that???

• Feeling sluggish in the afternoon - this can lead to snacking....

• Getting drowsy while driving - NOT a good thing!

• Having heavy eyelids and watery eyes

• Experiencing memory lapses - you are tired, not old!

• Experiencing irritability and low energy - nobody likes a cranky person.

• Feeling excessive hungriness or a complete lack of appetite - this will mess up your plan!

Lesson learned: I will stick to a better sleep schedule.

This is more than just fitness. It is a health journey.

Mind - Body - Soul