New Years Resolutions & Why They Fail

The end of the year is officially here and it is time to start thinking about New Year’s Resolutions. 2020 has brought a year of uncertainty, stress, and for some, the quarantine 15. Anyone else? 2021 is bringing us a breath of fresh air and hope for the future. Now it’s time to decide how we will make the most of it! New Years Resolutions are a great way to find renewed motivation. The most popular resolutions involve losing weight. Has your New Years Resolution ever been one of the following?

“I will go to the gym 5 days a week”

“I am going to start a new diet and stick to it!”

 “I am cutting out carbs all year!”

The above statements are some of the most popular weight loss goals set surrounding the new year. Now here is the hardest challenge….. Sustaining our resolutions. After a month of comfort food, sweet treats, and one too many holiday cocktails, people are ready hit reset and get fit! Gyms offer specials and people sign up! The sad part is that most new January gym memberships go unused. After a week of motivation, people fall back into old patterns. 

There are a number of reasons why people give up on their weight loss New Years Resolutions, but we are here to focus on one BIG reason. Lack of sleep. There is science behind lack of sleep and weight gain. 

Evidence #1: “Leptin is the hormone that tells you to stop eating, and when you are sleep deprived, you have less leptin.” (Susan Zafarlotfi, PhD, clinical director of the Institute for Sleep and Wake Disorders at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey). Decreased leptin levels means more overeating because your body isn’t signaling you that you are full. 

Evidence #2: “Numerous human studies have shown that sleep-deprived people prefer larger food portions, seek more calories, experience signs of increased food-related impulsivity and experience more fatigue” (TIFFANI BACHUS, RDN, AND ERIN MACDONALD, RDN). Sleep deprivations equals impulsive overeating. 

To put it simply, sleep is key to weight loss. If you are thinking about setting weight loss goals for your New Years Resolutions, make sure you take your goals on with a full approach. How are your sleeping habits? Are you sleep deprived currently? What can you do to set yourself up for weight loss success in 2021?

We suggest evaluating your sleeping habits first. Examine why you may be sleep deprived. Many of our customers at The Mattress Hub come into our store to fix an issue associated with their current mattress. The most common issues with old mattresses are their comfort levels. Mattresses lose their shape overtime and in return can cause uncomfortable sleep. 

After examining your sleeping habits, THEN work on your health goals! We hope this makes all the difference in your 2021 New Years Resolutions becoming sustainable ones!