My sister is worried about her friend, who thinks by sleeping 3/4 hours less a night 2/3 times a week (she usually gets 8/9 hours a sleep during a normal night's sleep), she is burning more calories. Usually during these extra waking hours, she just watches movies or surfs the internet. No physical exercise as such.
I wanted to know, if simply being awake when your body is telling you to be sleeping, and watching DVDs etc. burns more calories than sleeping itself.
I hope not. I wanna help my sis' friend.
2007-02-22 06:56:15 · 8 answers · asked by Leanne C 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Your body actually uses a lot of calories while you sleeping to make new cells and repair itself, as many or maybe even more than being awake and inactive. By depriving herself of sleep and doing no exercise you sisters friend isn't doing herself any favours! She's just going to make herself sleep deprived and she'll lack energy, so she won't be able to do anything.
2007-02-22 07:02:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She needs to sleep. Studies have shown a person needs from 7-9 hours of sleep a night and it just harms your body to do what she is doing. In a perfect world, Sleep should be the same every night - to bed at 10 or 11 p.m. and up at 6 of 7 a.m., even on the weekends.
The study also shows that people who get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep a night are slimmer than those who get less sleep. Check out the website below for more info:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20051018/sleep-your-way-to-weight-loss
2007-02-22 07:09:15 · answer #2 · answered by sherirenee1954 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dear Leanne, the Gimp is right, it has been shown that people who lose out on sleep are MORE likely to gain weight, though I admit I don't know the mechanism. It may be a survival mechanism in the body, just like the one that stores more fat if the body senses that it is being starved!
Also a lack of sleep won't help her health any, and more than anything she should concentrate on her health first.
If however, you think she may be on the way to an eating disorder, I think it may be a bit much for you and your sister to handle; in that case I suggest seeking out helplines and groups dedicated to helping with such problems, and your G.P. would be a good place to start.
2007-02-22 07:14:59 · answer #3 · answered by andrew m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a problem before that basically caused my metabolism to shut itself down. Coincidentally, about that time I also developed severe insomnia. So in my case, my body was burning less calories while I was awake more hours. There was no cause and effect between these two, rather they were both the effect of something else entirely.
2007-02-22 07:10:39 · answer #4 · answered by larsor4 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she's sitting around, watching movies etc...no. However, if she is an overall active person...getting up earlier and being active will help burn calories as you are awake for longer and you have more time to do physical activity. YOU MUST BE MOVING, THOUGH...NOT SITTING AROUND...Otherwise, lack of sleep could leave you whole array of health problems.
2007-02-22 07:07:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Getting the correct amount of sleep does not make you fatter. Being lazy does. There's a difference. Exercising before bed also speeds matabolism.
2016-05-23 23:33:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard (quite a few times) that regardless of how many calories you eat, people who sleep more tend to be slimmer. I know it doesn't seem logical but apparently its something to do with metabolism. so tell her that!
2007-02-22 07:01:11 · answer #7 · answered by G*I*M*P 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i've read that you lose 40 calories per hour when you sleep. im not sure how or why, but hey, sleeps pretty sweet and she shouldnt miss out on it
2007-02-22 07:43:24 · answer #8 · answered by Banana Hero [sic] 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋