Mighty Mommy Belly Burn Project: Week 3
Check out the Week 3 update of the Belly Burn Project and find out how the Mighty Mommy is continuing to make amazing progress.
Cheryl Butler
This week I’m heading into the 4th week of the Mighty Mommy Belly Burn Project, and I’m excited to share that I’ve lost 11 pounds and nearly 2 pant sizes. I’m in a pretty good groove with my eating and exercise and although I’ve started seeing some nice results, I admit that I still have moments where I’d love to kick back with a glass of wine (or two) and a bowl of ultimate nachos to unwind.
The nice part is that the Belly Burn Project has become a lifestyle for me now, so when I do feel the need to cave into temptation, I turn to the great resources available to me. Having my colleague, Ben Greenfield guiding me in this in program has lots of advantages. Between the wide assortment of podcasts and transcripts available on Get-Fit Guy’s website, and in addition to having a copy of his latest book, Get-Fit Guy’s Guide to Achieving Your ideal Body, I always have a place to turn when I need some inspiration or information.
Our second webcast was held on Friday, May 10th at 9 AM PDT/ 12 noon EST and it was packed with great information to help me and other Belly Burn followers to keep the momentum going. If you missed the live webcast, you can still watch Belly Burn webcast #2 here. Ben discussed one topic that really hit home with me in particular and it has definitely been a challenge for me for the past ten years—getting enough sleep each night!
Busy Mom + Lack of Sleep = Weight Gain
I’ve always been the kind of person who seemed to get by just fine with 4-6 hours of sleep. That probably stems from having 8 babies within one decade and being sleep deprived was just the norm for me. My youngest is now 7, however, and I’m still only grabbing 5 hours each night, tops.
I don’t believe I have a problem with insomnia; it’s more that nighttime is the only time that I have to myself where I can read, write, or listen to podcasts and audio books because I’m so busy during the day. Now that I’m approaching 50, I have definitely noticed my body isn’t responding as well to my lack of sleep as it used to. In the second Belly Burn webcast, Ben confirmed what I already suspected: Not getting enough sleep (6-8 hours per night) could be one of the reasons I’ve struggled with weight loss.
He explained some of the reasons why getting enough sleep is vital to weight loss and overall health. Turns out, a lack of sleep:
- …weakens your immune system (and for athletes, getting sick means less training or poor training).
- …leads to obesity. Recent studies have shown that even one night of poor sleep can result in changes in appetite and food intake. Sleep deprivation also impairs carbohydrate tolerance, insulin sensitivity, and glucose uptake. When glucose uptake is inhibited, you aren’t able to refuel before, during, and after your workouts.
- …raises inflammation. Sleep deprivation causes chronic, low-grade inflammation. Inflammation is the root of all modern disease and severely inhibits the bodies’ ability to repair muscles, tissue, and tendon damage.
For more information and helpful suggestions about how to achieve your best night’s sleep, check out Get-Fit Guy’s episode on sleep. I’ve already implemented some of the easy suggestions such as darkening my room and have already had a much better week of sleep than I have had in years.
Our next webcast for the Belly Burn Project is scheduled for Friday, May 24 at 12 noon EST, that’s 9 am PDT. Ben and I hope you’ll join us to check in on my progress as well as to have your health and fitness questions answered during the live Q & A with Ben. You can also visit our Belly Burn resource pages at our Quick and Dirty Website.
Belly Burn Project Blueprint
Belly Burn Dietary Recommendations Page
Belly Burn Frequently Asked Questions Page