Sleep

Another article in Glamour magazine tested the scientific proof behind new findings that an adequate amount of sleep (7 1/2 - 8 hours for most people) cut cravings for unhealthy foods and helped weight loss.

A group of women volunteered to make no changes to their lifestyle other than getting 8 hours of sleep every night.

They all lost weight and inches, ranging from 6 to 15 pounds. The biggest challenge was keeping the committment to going to bed earlier than they were used to.

I thought this article was well-done because it followed real people putting it to the test, not simply a self-improvement article.

Collateral benefits reported by the women were increased energy, decreased cravings for junk food, increased desire for healthy foods, and a new connection to their husbands for those women who habitually went to bed later than their husbands.

I'm telling you this because with so many high-priority demands on your time day in and day out, we must create a boundary around our sleep time. With evidence such as this, the benefits are enormous to our physical and mental health.

It was all in the March issue of Glamour.