Why I'm Choosing Sleep for Weight Loss Success

I know some of y’all are probably wondering, when is she going to talk about food? Don’t worry, I’ll get there. But before I do, I really want to talk about sleep and weight loss. People don’t always understand how important a role it plays in good health, especially when it comes to losing weight. I know this from personal experience. Unfortunately, sleep, just like water, movement, and moderation, is something I’ve struggled with for a long time. (This post was hidden, lol , and should have been posted a few weeks ago.

How Sleep Became Part of My Weight Struggle

Personally, I think my obesity comes from a lot of different reasons all mixed together—kind of like the perfect storm. One big piece of that storm is sleep. After having children, I wanted to be there for them, so I took a job working overnight. I’ll tell you, that was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Not because of the job itself, which was physically tough, but because of the adjustment to working overnight. So that’s where it started, working hour nights, four days on and days off. Sounds simple, right? Those off days are definitely deceiving, especially when you have small kids.

Why Working Overnight Changed Everything

At the time, I thought it made a lot of sense, and honestly, I’m still not sure if I made the wisest decision, but either way, it was done. Looking back, I probably should have gone another route, and you’ll see why later. I worked overnight for over ten years, and I don’t think I ever really got used to it. The first five years were mostly on a distribution center floor, doing heavy lifting and all those “fun” physical jobs; not! There were days I don’t even remember how I made it through. I was constantly sleepy. No amount of rest ever gave me that feeling of being truly refreshed.

You all know I love my coffee, but during that time, I basically lived off caffeine. Sometimes I’d fill a carafe that kept my coffee hot for most of my shift, and there was always plenty to share with others if they needed a pick-me-up. It was one of those stainless steel pitchers I think I bought from Starbucks back when they sold more than just mugs. I might need to find it and polish it up one day. Over those years, I kind of fell into this rhythm where I was basically a functional sleepyhead. And hey, that’s totally a thing!

Watching the Weight Climb

So while I had settled into that overnight rhythm, I started noticing the same struggle in others around me. There were a lot of women working those hours, some had been there even longer than I had—and many of them were obese. Some chose gastric bypass as a fix. That was a route I didn’t want to take, for reasons I’ll talk about another time. Now, back then my weight was still climbing, but I wasn’t anywhere near where I am today, so I didn’t see surgery as necessary or even something to consider. Still, with each passing year, the weight kept creeping on, slowly but surely.

Never mind that I was constantly on the move at work. You’d think the physical labor would’ve helped, right? Nope. Not one bit. I was a strong young woman, and I could hang with the best of them. But hanging didn’t help my fatness.

The Years That Took the Most

By the fifth year, I was still working overnight, but this time I had moved into an office setting. The hours were the same, but I was no longer doing physical labor. One small perk, there was always a fresh pot of coffee brewing. I kept it going most nights, and every now and then, a few of the supervisors would swing by for a cup and a quick chat.

But this is where things really started to wear on me. I had moved, almost two hours away from work. And what did I do? I commuted. Two hours there, two hours back, every evening and every morning, for four days a week. Well, five if you count the morning drive home. By this time, my kids were settled into school, and I had a rule that when they got home, I would be up to greet them.

So for the last five or six years of working overnights, my days were filled with short, broken sleep. I’ll get into that part more in another post, but let me just say, it created a real sleep issue. Being sleep-deprived for that long absolutely affected how my body responded, and I know now it played a big role in my weight gain.

When Everything Started to Shift

Every part of my body went haywire. And honestly, even to this day, I still deal with some of the long-term effects of being sleep-deprived for so many years. My womanly cycle became unpredictable, and there were times when I couldn’t think clearly at all. I was always sleepy. And don’t let me eat anything because once I did, it was a wrap. Instant sleep.

The Hunger I Couldn't Explain

I never realized how important sleep was for weight loss until I started noticing something new. I was always hungry. Not just a little snacky. I’m talking about full-on, stomach-growling hunger, even after I had just eaten.

The Doctor Who Didn't Listen

At the time, I had a routine check-up scheduled with my usual doctor, but she was out that day. So I saw another doctor who was rude, cold, and of course, brought up my weight. I tried to explain everything I had been going through, how I felt, and how my body was reacting, but she didn’t want to hear it.

Finding a Doctor Who Listened

So I decided to do some research and schedule another appointment with someone new. This time, I found a doctor who actually listened. She was kind, reassuring, and she looked me in the eyes when she talked to me.

Turning Point: Leaving the Overnight Job

Two weeks later, I left that overnight job.

My Ongoing Sleep Struggles

I will say that my sleep habits have gotten better, but I still struggle with getting enough quality sleep. My sleep is broken, and I rarely sleep for long stretches. I’m naturally an early riser, so I’m usually up around 4am, sometimes earlier, even if I went to bed late.

If you're curious about the science behind how sleep affects metabolism and weight loss, here are some resources that delve deeper:

• NIH: Metabolic Consequences of Sleep and Sleep Loss

• PubMed: Sleep Deprivation: Effects on Weight Loss and Weight Loss Maintenance

• PubMed: Effect of Sleep Deprivation on the Human Metabolome

These articles explore how inadequate sleep can disrupt hormonal balance and metabolic processes, potentially impacting weight management."

Moving Toward Better Rest

So I want to take it a step further and really work on this, because I know how important it is for the success of my weight loss journey. This week, I’m focusing on getting quality rest, or at least starting in that direction. I want my sleep to actually do something for me. I want it to support every part of my health, not just help me feel less tired.

Oh, and just a little follow-up: I’m still working on building better water habits and getting in more movement. I’m not giving up on that either. It’s all part of it. I’m not expecting overnight success, but I’m proud that I’m staying aware of my goals without letting them take over my mind. Some days I’ll look over and see my table empty, and I’ll go get my water. Or I’ll be in the middle of piecing together a quilt top and force myself to get up and move for a bit.

Want a Little Help Getting to Sleep?

If you’re like me and still working on getting better rest, I’ve got a post you might enjoy. I shared a bit about why I love thunderstorms, and honestly, the sound of rain and rumbling thunder can be so calming when it’s time to settle down. If you need something to help you wind down, give it a read or play some storm sounds in the background tonight. Might just help more than you think.

[Read: Thunderstorms, Comfort, and the Sound of Rest ]