Burning fat while you sleep. Sounds like a dream, right?
Go ahead, cover your nose and try to breathe… Yep, not working – you are in fact awake!
Now, look to the right of this site –> that’s a lot of Facebook likes!
So yes, you can take a grain of salt or more in regards to the information we’re about to bust out for you.
Specifically, we’re going to discuss how you can burn fat while you sleep.
To do this, we are going to explain a little bit about what sleep does, how sleep burns fat, how you can maximize this effect, and more. Afterwards, you’re going to be so excited that you may just go lay down!
So let’s start.
The Deal on Sleep and its Effect on Body Composition
Sleep has always been linked to laziness, time wasted, and time lost; but that doesn’t mean it’s without purpose? The truth is, a vast array of metabolic and reparative functions occur overnight while you sleep.
Of most importance:
Proper sleep is required for not only the maintenance of brain tissue supporting memory, reaction-time, and mental elasticity; but also hormonal control that affects everything from hunger to muscle growth and emotion.
In a nutshell, we often sacrifice sleep to get the most out of our limited lifespan without realizing that the function of proper sleep is one of the most regenerative, anti-aging, healthful processes the body can partake in.
During a study conducted by the University Of Chicago Medical Center in 1999, subjects restricted to 4 hours of sleep each night exhibited extreme signs of mental and physical aging ranging from cognitive to diabetes like deficits.
Though after receiving 12 hours of sleep subject’s functions were restored to above average; suggesting that the standard 8 hours of sleep may not be long enough for optimal longevity and performance. view source here
That’s a pretty clear indication of how cutting sleep can mess with your brain, but what have researchers found in regards to lack of sleep and body composition?
In 2007’s Obesity volume 15, Jean-Philippe Chaput et al found a relationship between hours spent sleeping and the hormone leptin. Specifically, they found that variance from 7-8 hours of sleep per night, specifically less to the degree of 4-6 hours resulted in a significant drop in leptin.
The hormone leptin is what helps moderate the usage of fat, as well as trigger satiety in the body so that these stored fat reserves can be utilized. Therefore, a drop in leptin often coincides with weight gain, and the inability to lose weight. View source here.
These results are a pretty definitive support for what you already know – a little bit more sleep could really enrich your life. But, these results are based on average people and not athletic or dieting individuals.
So let’s see what else we can find.
A recent 2010 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine lead by Nedeltcheva et al. found a correlation between hours slept and the type of energy source used by the body.
In the study, fewer than 7 hours of sleep translated into less fat metabolized, and more bodily protein metabolized for energy. Alternatively, approximately 7-9 hours of sleep produced a more fat-focused metabolism and preserved muscle. View source here.
Supplements to Help Burn Fat While You Sleep
Taking supplements to burn more fat while you sleep is not entirely necessary. Simply allotting the time required for fat burning, regenerative sleep and sticking to it is all that you need.
After all, looking at the studies above – simply getting into your proper circadian rhythm can monumentally improve your body composition over time.
Though, that’s not always a realistic strategy for all people.
In which case, we ca hack at it with the following supplements meant to help fill the gap by increasing your ability to sleep, quality of sleep, and fat burning potential during those nighttime hours.
If you are extremely stressed out about sleep, and know that sticking to a perfect sleep schedule is out of the question; or if you simply want a strong kick-start to getting into a proper sleep rhythm – these nighttime fat burning supplements are a great option for consideration.
You can also check out the best energy fat burners here for during the day time.
3 Best Night Time Fat Burner Options
#1 Take a ZMA Supplement
Hands down, the best thing you can do for your body to get better sleep is to take a ZMA supplement. ZMA’s contain Zinc and Magnesium – two important minerals that many people are deficient in. Both of these minerals partake in many bodily processes going far beyond fat burning.
Additionally, the magnesium in a ZMA supplement helps to relax your muscles as you go to bed, allowing you to fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly.
While many bodybuilders and athletes take these supplements, they can also be taken by dieters. We have a great article about ZMA Supplements Here that you can read to lean more.
#2 BPI Sports NITE-BURN
NITE-Burn by BPI supports deep regenerative sleep and a leaner body through 3 ingredient categories known to be effective individually. The most important component of NITE-Burn, the sleep enhancer consists of melatonin and tryptophan; both proven to support quality of sleep and induce falling asleep.
The lean body component of NITE-Burn contains fat burning raspberry ketones, white kidney bean extract, Saffron, and bloat reducing dandelion.
Over time, the sleep and fat burning matrix will support a leaner, more aesthetic body while the dandelion component will reduce bloating on a daily basis resulting in ‘waking up looking more ripped’.
The most important component of Nighttime fat loss supplements is the sleep enhancer.
While the direct fat burner components do directly burn fat; the sleep enhancers promote natural wellbeing and trigger your body’s natural inclination to moderate metabolism, resist food urges, regenerate, and feel better.
#3 MAN REM PM
REM PM supports fat loss and quality of sleep through a two-fold process similar to that of NITE-burn, but with different ingredients.
The fat burning matrix in REM PM consists of L-carnitine, green tea, and phosphatidyl-serine; while the sleep matrix consists of powerful and effective ingredients such as 5-HTP, melatonin, tryptophan, and valerian root.
In addition to burning more calories and waking up more revived, users taking REM PM can anticipate more vivid dreams due to the deeper level of sleep obtained.
Bottom Line on Nighttime Fat Burning Supplements
As we have shown you, there are a few effective supplements that can increase fat burning and sleep quality overnight.
These can be very helpful additions to many fitness and diet regimens; however, it is overwhelmingly important to focus on the basics as well. That is, meal timing, protein intake, allotting a solid sleep schedule, and pursuing that solid sleep schedule.
Remember, to be healthy is the result of living healthy and once you start living the way you are meant to, you will never want to revert back!
Additionally, all of the fat burning, cognitive, and muscle benefits of proper sleep are obtainable without the use of supplements.
However, we get that some people will either need those benefits now to reach a deadline, or use a sleep supplement to slowly get into a natural rhythm that can be maintained without further supplementation.
Leaving Tip – Control Night Time Eating
It is sensible to realize that without moderation and discipline, the nighttime hours can be a time of weight gain and fat storage. This is caused by the infamous nighttime cravings, which result in an excess of calories as well as high blood sugar which prevents much needed sleep.
We strongly recommend that anyone fighting with nighttime cravings should evaluate the timing of their meals leading up to before bed as well as food options available for uncontrollable hunger.
The general rule of thumb for combating over eating is protein.
In comparison to all other sources of nourishment, protein is the most filling as well as the least fattening. With that being said, replacing late-night sweets and items of desperation with the many low calorie protein options available can substantially turn the tide in many diets. (We plan on writing soon about acceptable night-time foods, when it’s available we will place a link here. You many comment below to encourage and speed up the process!).