Rest Your Way to Weight Loss

Did you know that in 1910 the average American slept nine hours a night? In 2000, the average was seven, and in 2018 the average was again down to 5.5-6.5 hours a night.
 Most people will say they feel rested if they're fortunate enough to get six.
However, the seemingly unending list of negative side effects associated with lack of rest is alarming.  Did you know that the number one clue for many is a migraine?  A large percentage of Americans are suffering migraines due to consistent sleep deprivation.  
 A huge price to pay for a lack of sleep.
In his book Traveling Light 2000, author Max Lucado, takes a deeper look into the 10 commandments.  In doing so, his reading audience might be surprised that God felt so strongly about the importance of rest and rejuvenation that when giving us the commandments, He went to great lengths to describe what we should do on the Sabbath; rest.
He further explains who is permitted to work; no one.
 Not mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, slaves or even animals.
 Yet in other commandments, instructions are offered in short four or five word statements;
"Thou shalt not murder, steal, commit adultery."
Why is it that a lack of rest does not equate disobedience in our minds?
 "I can get by," I'll rest up this weekend."
"We're going on vacation, next month, I will rest then."
The problem is, our weekends and vacations are just as busy as our work week, if not more so.  
Experts are now saying that our actions are proving fatal.  More than 70 million Americans aren't sleeping enough and one third of our population is dozing off at work, napping in class and falling asleep at the wheel.  Nearly 2000 traffic deaths per year are attributed to drivers falling asleep while driving.
Although, by far the most traumatic, that is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of repercussions.  We now know that a lack of sleep inhibits our cognitive abilities, i.e. ability to make timely and appropriate decisions, impacts our productivity at work, decreases patience
and has a negative impact on our ability to lose weight!
 Think about it like this:  You wake up tired. Too tired to fix a healthy breakfast.  So instead you opt for a donut and cappachino from Dunkin. (quickly adding up to 600+ calories.) You get a jolt from the sugar in your breakfast, crashing around 10am, look for a pick-me-up in the vending machine.  (M&M's 290 calories and a Mountain Dew 15o calories.)
For lunch, another quick meal, because your behind at work due to difficulty focusing and yawning this morning.  Your co-worker is heading to McDonalds; you're too tired to think about what you want, decide on the Big Mac value meal and depending on what you choose to drink, lunch could top out at 800 calories or more.
 The day goes on and you find your pick-me-ups in vending machine snacks and candy dishes in the break room or living room; running through another drive thru for dinner because of course your evening is fully scheduled and you are still too tired to cook.
Do the massive calculations and you could easily end the day having consumed more that 2500 calories when you were trying to stay around 1600.  (Let's not forget that you skipped your workout beacause why?  You were too tired,)

Friend, God knew the importance of rest.  
The Bible says that on the seventh day, He rested.
 Our life-long journey to enhancing our lives and growing in our walk with the Lord requires us to follow Him and do what He instructs us to do.  In ALL areas.
I pray you find ways to get the rest you need and that God has  commanded of His people.  
And if you still struggle to find the time to rest due to your busy schedule, be encouraged by what Charles Spurgeon once said,
"In the long run, we shall do more, sometimes, by doing less."

Let's Pray.
Once again, I find that my attempts to lose weight have been hindered by my lifestyle.  God, until I change what I do everyday, I am realizing I will struggle to lose this weight  and keep it off.  You have provided such clear instructions and promises of blessings when I follow your commands.  Help me today to rest and know that in You I find lasting success.  Even in weight loss!
In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray,
Amen

E4M DAILY STRATEGY
Rest Your Way To Weight Loss
Understanding the following facts about sleep and weight loss can help encourage you to prioritize sleep in your busy schedule!

Poor Sleep Changes Your Fat Cells-  With sleep deprivation, your body's ability to properly use insulin (the master storage hormone) becomes completely disrupted.  Long story short, when your insulin is functioning well, it ends up storing fat in all the wrong places, And, your body's  inability to use insulin properly has been linked to weight gain and diseases like like diabetes.

Lack of Rest Makes You Crave Food- When you don't sleep enough, your cortisol levels rise. This is the stress hormone that is frequently associated with fat gain.

Sleep Sabotages Gym Time-  When you're suffering from slept deprivation, everything you do feels more challenging, especially your workouts.

Sleep Controls Your Diet-  Not sleeping enough—less than seven hours of sleep per night—can reduce and undo the benefits of dieting.  Research indicates that when we suffer from sleep deprivation, we feel hungrier and lose weight at a slower pace than our well rested friends. (Even when following the same meal plan!)
Rest is imperative in life and in weight loss.  Let this be the day you follow the command of the Lord and REST!