| Sleep is when your body repairs and regenerates | | | | rather than every day. You can also "sneak" exercise |
| itself. When we don't get enough sleep our bodies | | | | into your daily activities rather than setting aside a |
| rebel by making us cranky, by keeping our minds | | | | specific time for it. |
| muddled, and eventually by causing us to get sick. This | | | | If your day is busy with housework and child care, |
| is the body's way of saying "Enough of this! I need | | | | integrating a little exercise into the day can be easy - |
| time to make repairs!" | | | | and fun for the kids. In summer, take them out for a |
| In women, lack of sleep can even lead to strokes and | | | | game of Frisbee or an energizing walk or bike ride. In |
| heart attacks. So lack of sleep is nothing to be taken | | | | winter, teach them how to dance. |
| lightly. | | | | If you're stuck in an office and spend time commuting, |
| But did you know that your sleep patterns can alter | | | | it's a little more difficult, but you can sneak exercise into |
| your metabolism and prevent you from losing weight? | | | | tight spots when you have to. For instance, when you |
| People who are constantly sleep deprived end up with | | | | stop for groceries, park at the far end of the lot and |
| less energy to do daily activities - including digestion! | | | | walk briskly on your way into the store. Then decline |
| Sleep-starved people lower their own metabolism | | | | help with getting your purchases into the car. |
| because their bodies don't have the energy to break | | | | But perhaps your lack of sleep isn't due to lack of time. |
| down food efficiently, particularly when they ingest a | | | | If you just have trouble getting to sleep and staying |
| lot of carbohydrates. | | | | asleep, try eating a sleep inducing snack such as |
| For busy people, it becomes a catch 22. In order to | | | | cherries or almonds at bedtime, turn off the |
| boost metabolism, build muscle, and burn fat, they need | | | | stress-inducing TV and read something inspirational or |
| exercise. But sometimes the only way to fit in exercise | | | | soothing, meditate, or take a warm bath before bed. If |
| is to steal the time from sleep time. | | | | those don't work, try a natural remedy such as |
| When this is the problem, integrating some balance into | | | | melatonin or Bach Flower Essences. |
| life is the only solution. Either find some free minutes in | | | | Just remember - for a strong and healthy body, and to |
| the daytime for a little exercise, or if you have to steal | | | | keep your weight under control, you need both sleep |
| it from sleep time, set a schedule of every other day | | | | and exercise! |