Day 6 - The thing that's essential for your health but that you're probably neglecting right now

Are you guilty of neglecting your sleep? 

Most people know that eating healthfully and exercising are two of the first steps to a healthy lifestyle.

Very few people realize that getting enough high-quality sleep is just as important.

I always tell my clients that just as the body needs proper food and exercise, it also needs adequate time to rest and reboot.

Consistent periods of rejuvenation help reduce long-term stress.

When we’re stressed, our bodies are more likely to hold onto unwanted fat (it's how we were designed to survive), we are also more likely to crave sugar & junk food to stay awake! 

Do you see where I’m going with this? If you give your body enough sleep, you won’t have to battle cravings and an expanding waistline.

As for everything I preach, the focus needs to be on quality over quantity.

Getting poor quality sleep is as much of a waste of your time as engaging in poor quality exercise.

These tips will help you improve the quality of your sleep:

• Turn off all electronics at least one hour before bed and listen to soft music or meditate instead. If you have kids, set a no-TV-before-bed rule and watch their energy skyrocket. Watching TV and surfing the web right before bed will leave you overstimulated and restless.
• Turn the lights, noise, and heat down as you get ready to sleep. Light candles, turn off or mute noisy electronics, and try to keep your bedroom at a comfortable temperature.
• Plan your last meal to be 3-4 hours before bed. Late-night snacking (especially on junk foods) and caffeine before bed will keep you counting sheep into the early hours.
• If you're a Fit Body Fresh Mind member, slow down & unwind with a relaxing Yoga flow

P.s: Beat The Bloat is a 21 day challenge where we address the reasons why you get bloated and hold onto weight despite exercising and eating healthy. Lack of sleep is one of them!