Sleep Tip #1 – No Caffeine After 3PM


Okay, rewind…apparently I need to rethink what a blog is.  Wikapedia says that a blog can be a chronological journey or journal or whatever, but it must be interesting.

Really, I guess, a blog is just a conversation, so how about I blog about strategies and recipes that help me (and perhaps you) to lose weight and keep it off.  Sound good?  Oh, yes, I want to lose around 12 pounds.  My weight has crept up over the last couple of months, as I have been travelling in Europe and taking time out in Palm Desert, California.  Vacations always seem to get you.

As for my weight loss tools, I will be using a variety of digital products.  I will track my food intake with My Fitness Pal on my iPad/iPhone. [Update 11/08/2018: I do much better with physically writing out my food choices, so I’m using paper and pen again.]  For dietary plan, I will use my personalized food plan.  Then I will use Pulse to take my activity and sleep. [Update 11/08/2018: Using Apple Watch and Oura Ring — my Pulse went through the washer (oops!)]  Are you ready to join me?

Since sleeping through the night will help you lose weight, I am going to start here. You might be asking, so how does sleep really make a difference with weight loss?  Sleep through the night is important, because the more up and down you are throughout the night, the more likely you are to not only not lose weight- but you’re more prone to gain weight.  This is related to a hormone level reaction. Waking up throughout the night disrupts how this hormone reacts and is made within the body, thus leading to weight gain.  Researchers believe (and have proven over and over again in studies) that sleeping throughout the night helps to regulate all hormones, improving your metabolism and promoting weight loss.

Ok, this is easier said than done- right? Wrong. You can get a good night’s sleep. In fact, sleeping through the night is not only good for your waistline, it’s great for productivity purposes, too.

Today’s “sleep plan” is to remove anything caffeinated after three in the afternoon.  This sounds obvious, but it’s hard to do.  Coffee, green tea (well, any tea), and sodas (which you shouldn’t drink anyway, right?) are all sources of caffeine.  Personally, I enjoy my Earl Grey roobios in the evening, when I am watching my favourite TV show.  They say cutting off caffeinated drinks after three in the afternoon will improve my ability to go to sleep on time and stay asleep throughout the night.  I will let you know tomorrow, if I note any change or improvement with my overall sleep.


About Brenda

Brenda loves learning and sharing what she's learning with you. She is a certified keto/carnivore coach with Keto-Adapted (Maria and Craig Emmerich, a certified holistic nutritional consultant (CHNC), and a natural nutrition clinical practitioner (NNCP).