Why Sleep Is So Important For Getting The Best Results In The Gym

We all know that proper technique and good nutrition are vital if you want to see results from your training efforts. However, we tend to overlook what an important role sleep plays in our health and fitness.

How Sleep Affects Your Health

Obviously, we all need sleep. Without it, you may suffer a number of consequences.

• Lack of sleep can affect your immune system, making you more susceptible to catching that cold from your coworker.
• When you regularly miss out on sleep, your risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke is much higher.  
• When you haven’t slept enough, you’re more likely to forget things or have trouble thinking.

All of these things can affect your performance and your progress. Plus, it’s hard to stay motivated when you’re always feeling tired.

Importance of sleep for muscle recovery

Recovery is an essential part of developing positive results from training. You can’t recover if you don’t rest, and people who train need more of it than everyone else. To run at optimal levels, you need good sleep. There’s just no way around it. Sometimes it is said that muscles are built while you sleep. This is true - sleep is just as important for building muscle as your time in the gym. During sleep crucial muscle building hormones are secreted. This is what helps your muscle rebuild after you have worked them in the gym. This breakdown and rebuild is the recipe for muscle growth. 

So, is sleep exercise?

Not exactly, but it is a hugely important part of your fitness routine. As well as producing growth hormones, your body also breaks down protein from your diet during your sleep. This is why protein desserts are so popular! Eating protein before bed feeds your body the protein it needs to make muscle while you sleep.

How to Improve the Quality and Quantity of Your Sleep

The good news is that a few simple strategies can help you overhaul your sleep habits. You’ll be healthier and more motivated, and you’ll see better, faster results from your training efforts.

• Change the way you think about sleep.  Good sleep should never be considered expendable. You wouldn’t forego eating because you’re too busy, and you shouldn’t do that with sleep.

• Take Comfort. You really can’t get good quality sleep on a poor quality bed. Invest in a decent mattress, and use pillows that give you proper support. Your sleep environment matters, too. It might be time to spruce up your bedroom and make it a more calming, relaxing place to be. Make it as dark as possible too!

• Consider a bedtime screen ban. Modern technology is affecting how we sleep. Experts warn that late-night screen time can wreak havoc on your sleep habits. Try nixing Netflix-binging in bed, and put down the phone an hour before it’s time to get some shuteye.  

• Create a relaxing routine. After you turn off all the electronics, take a nice bath, meditate, journal, or listen to some relaxing music. Whatever helps you wind down after a long day.

• Get yourself on a sleep schedule. Sleep experts recommend going to bed and waking up at the same time every night, even on weekends. While this may not always be possible, aim to stick to a schedule as often as you can.

• Don’t skip your workout. Good news for people who train: daily exercise helps you sleep better at night. Work hard, sleep hard.

• Supplement your sleep. Taking the right supplements can maximise the benefits of sleeping, amplify your recovery, and help you recharge your mind and body more effectively. Here at Elite Supps, we offer a wide variety of sleep aid supplements to help you sleep better and burn fat more efficiently.

Shop our bestselling sleep aids here, and see what customers are saying about these effective, recovery-boosting supplements.