The Missing Piece In Your Fitness Journey
I’m doing everything by the book, so why am I still not seeing results?
You’ve cleaned up your diet. You’ve been consistent in your workouts. You’re doing everything right, yet the results still feel… flat. Your energy isn’t at the level you expect it to be, and worst of all, the scale hasn’t moved.
Here’s why: you are not sleeping…enough
Good sleep triumphs everything.
You can talk circles about calories, macros, and bulgarian squats, but without the right foundation, everything crumbles.
Sleep is where the transformation happens. You might have heard it a million times. Or, maybe this is the first you’re hearing about it. Regardless, here’s the low-down.
When we sleep, our body goes into repair mode. Building back muscles, repairing tissues, and balancing hormones to keep your metabolism running smoothly. Think of sleep as your body going into factory reset mode for the next day.
You can eat clean and train like an athlete, but if you have poor sleep, your body can never fully process it.
So, don’t expect to reach your desired body goals when you’re running on only five to six hours of broken sleep.
What’s the science behind it?
Excellent question! When you’re short on sleep, your body starts to panics. Yes, panic.
Stress hormones like cortisol rise; hunger hormones (like ghrelin) shoot up, making you crave carbs and sugar; and the hormone that tells you you’re full (leptin) drops.
In short, your body becomes hungrier, slower to recover, and more likely to hold on to fat. The exact opposite of all the effort you’ve put in. You might still be getting those reps in, but when your system is working against you, it’s like trying to run a marathon in sand. Or, on ice. Without skates.
What do I do now?
You don’t need silk pyjamas or the soft sounds of crashing waves playing in the background. Start with small changes to help your body wind down naturally.
- Put that phone away at least half an hour before bedtime
- Keep the room cool and dark
- Avoid caffeine after lunch
- Keep a bedtime routine and sleep around the same time each night so your body learns when to switch off.
If your mind keeps replaying tidbits of an eventful day, keep a notebook by your bed and write down your thoughts before sleeping. It clears mental clutter (and regulates your emotions) so your brain can get her beauty sleep.
Final thoughts
You can eat clean. You can train smart. But if you have poor sleep, your progress will come to you slower than expected.
Sleep is not a reward for a hard day. It’s a requirement for a healthy one.