Get Superior Sleep after Weight Loss Surgery

Posted: Jan 26 in Weight Loss Blog by Staff

How many hours of sleep do you get each night? If you’re like most people, the answer is “not nearly enough.” Though we all need a solid seven to nine hours every night, the many tasks of our waking lives often keep us up past bedtime, and this can leave us drowsy and fatigued each day.

Make no mistake: after sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass or gastric band in Ft. Myers or Naples, staying well-rested is important. Without a good night’s sleep, you may not have the energy to keep up your healthy lifestyle. You’re more likely to skip the workouts and healthy meals you’ve planned for a nap or a few exhausted hours watching TV. You may look for extra energy in a high-calorie snack or beverage, while your resistance to bad habits like emotional eating may also be reduced.

Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t always easy, but there are ways to make it easier. Because sleep habits are just as important as exercise and diet habits after sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass or gastric band, start resting better by:

• Getting cozy. Your bedroom needs to be a veritable fortress of slumber, a place designed for the express purpose of helping you fall asleep and stay asleep. A bright, hot, cluttered bedroom is no one’s ideal place to rest, so be sure you have comfortable bedding and reliable shades. You may also want to invest in a fan or earplugs, while it’s also a good idea to do away with technological distractions like TVs. Do your best to create an environment that you know will suit your nocturnal needs perfectly.
• Exercising earlier. Working out regularly can help us sleep easier and deeper, but it also raises our body temperature. Because it takes some time to cool off and we need a cooler body temperature to fall asleep, exercising too close to bedtime can make it difficult to nod off. Try to exercise at least three hours before you plan on hitting the hay—exercising in the late afternoon tends to be the best for helping you rest at night.
• Settling into a schedule. Going to sleep and waking up at the same times every day will help your body’s sleep-wake cycle get into a consistent rhythm, making it easier to fall asleep and wake up feeling rested. Try to stick to a specific schedule, even on holidays and weekends when it’s more tempting to sleep late.

Sleepless nights can lead to difficult days in your weight loss journey, so start giving your body the energy it needs by improving your sleeping habits now. What else has helped you sleep better after gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy or gastric band in Ft. Myers or Naples? Tell us in the comments below!