6 Surprising Facts About Sleep

Most of us are very aware of the importance of sleep (and getting enough of it), but here are some surprising facts you may not have heard before about sleep:

1. Flu-Z's
If you're sleep-deprived before getting your flu shot, it can take three to four weeks for the vaccine to kick in. Those who don't get appropriate rest have a weaker immune system, which hinders the vaccination's effectiveness.
Source: University of Chicago and Ohio State University study.

2. Take This to Heart
Poor sleep is more dangerous to women than to men. Women experience higher risks of cardiovascular problems when they don't get enough rest and they're also more susceptible to psychological distress, depression, and anger.
Source: Duke Medicine


3. Late Night Shifts
There's a link between those who work night shifts and breast cancer; researchers say they think it's because melatonin is suppressed, which is necessary for protection against some cancers. "Shift work that involves circadian disruption" is officially listed as a probable carcinogen.
Source: World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer


4. Sleep Apnea
Not only does lack of sleep hurt your ability to learn, but there's also a link between sleep-disordered breathing (i.e. sleep apnea) and dementia in women. Mental impairment is consistently associated with hypoxia, which is when the brain gets less oxygen due to breathing disruptions.
Source: Journal of the American Medical Association

5. Car Accidents
Auto accidents increase by 17 on the Monday after Daylight Saving Time occurs, which is when people "lose" an hour of sleep. Heart attacks increase by approximately 5 percent.
Source: University of British Columbia and New England Journal School of Medicine

6. Pillow Talk
For couples who sleep together (a whopping 23 percent don't), one partner typically loses about 49 minutes of sleep every night, due to disruptive behaviors. These could include anything from a companion's tossing and turning, the TV being on, the room's temperature being too hot or cold, and more.
Source: National Sleep Foundation

Trying to Lose Weight? Don't Give Up These Foods.

There is such mixed information out there about what to eat and not eat that it can get pretty confusing if you're trying to lose weight. Some say no carbs, others say no fat, while others yet tell you to eat cabbage soup (yuck). So, if you're trying to lose weight, whatever diet or method you may be following, make sure not to miss out on the important nutrients in the following foods.

Fall Fruits
Delicious apples, juicy pears, and others fruits may be high in sugar, but it's fructose, a natural and simple sugar that the body metabolizes quickly. Eating fruits will actually help you lose weight because they are bursting with fiver (a pear has six grams). Fiber fills you up and satiates your hunger, which prevents you from over-snacking.

Complex Carbs
While foods made with white flour (like bagels, regular pasta, and white bread) are a no-no, don't steer clear of all carbs. Complex carbs, like fruit, are high in fiber, and you don't have to eat much to feel full. During the chillier months, enjoy nutritious foods like whole wheat pasta, whole grain bread, brown rice, quinoa, and barley.

Healthy Fats
Not all fats are created equal, and while you want to avoid saturated fat-filled foods like ground beef or whipped cream, you definitely want to include heart-healthy unsaturated fats like buts, but butters, seeds, avocados, and olive oil. These foods are essential to your health; they make your skin glow and your hair shine, as well as keep your brain sharp.

Does Your Hair Keep You Out of the Gym?

When it comes to excuses to miss a workout, I've heard them all. But here's a reason every woman has used at least one - skipping the gym so you don't mess up your hair. Sound familiar?

I recently asked my hairdresser for some advice and here's what she said: You actually don't have to wash your hair after working up a sweat. It's not oil that your body releases from working out, it's actually salt water. Yes, this "salt water" may mess out a perfect blowout, but it doesn't mean your hair is dirty to the point where you must wash it. Her solution? If you're pressed for time and won't have time to wash and dry your hair, skip the wash and just use a hairdryer and round brush to fix the roots of your hair.

Have curly hair? Flip your head upside down and give the roots a blast of cold air from the hairdryer. Yes, for those of us (like me) who lean toward the germophobic side, his may seem out of the question, but my hairdresser guaranteed me there is no reason to wash after every workout. Fascinating, don't you think? So, I am curious: How many of you would try this method and skip washing after a sweaty workout?

Bride Brain

The past couple of days have been a bit of a wonderful blur. On Saturday, my boyfriend Mike asked me to marry him... And I of course said YES! Ever since, I have been giddy with excitement, and all I can think about is the fact that I'm getting married! I know, I know... sounds silly and sappy but it's true. I have Bride Brain. What is this, you ask? Urban Dictionary describes this condition pretty accurately:

Bride Brain ['brid'-'bran']
A less invasive, but more expensive version of a frontal lobotomy. Experienced by most brides, as they enter a catatonic state which renders them incapable of sustaining any thought or conversation that does not involve cake, caterers, flowers, wedding dress designers, Chinese wedding dress knockoff designers, updos, hair pieces, color schemes, wedding themes, and personalized M&M's.  

Bride Brain symptoms include, but are not limited to: driving erratically because they can't stop staring at their shiny diamond ring; being amused by the resentment of their single girlfriends, rewinding songs several hundred times while imagining themselves walking down the aisle, and starvation induced bitchiness which is generally followed by late night bingeing at a Dairy Queen. 

Symptoms are ordinarily well controlled with valium, alcohol, and endless hours of watching Youtube "first dance" videos. 

This Bride Brain business has been affecting me in every aspect of my life, but especially so in terms of writing posts on here. I just can't seem to focus. Bear with me while I try and get back down to earth! :)

P.S. The picture above is the view from the place where Mike proposed to me. Isn't it gorgeous?

Take It Inside!

It's around that time of year when running outside at 6 o'clock in the morning isn't as appealing as it was during the summer months (especially now after daylight savings), and working out at the gym becomes most people's only option. The Huffington Post has a great article on ways to spice up your treadmill workout and beat boredom. You can read all about it here.

Have an Auspicious Weekend!

Today, 11.11.11, is said to be one of the most auspicious days in the next hundred years! So, tonight at 11:11 take a moment to think about what you really want in your life. Ask your heart what it wants and manifest it. Gabrielle Bernstein will be live streaming a talk on this topic tonight which I am oh-so-excited about. You can sign up for her live talk on manifesting here and read about manifesting (and what it is) here. Have a wonderful weekend!

How To Get Flat Abs

The Huffington Post has a great article out today that I think everyone should read about abs. So often my clients ask me about how to get a flat tummy and want to know what is more important: diet or exercise. Well, the answer is that both are very important. Strong, firm, and flat abs are made in the gym (or Pilates studio :) and revealed in the kitchen! That means that just because you do a lot of ab work and work out a lot doesn't necessarily mean you're going to have killer abs. Downing fried food and sugary desserts after a hard workout only sets you back by contributing to your body fat percentage. So, even if you have rock hard abs they won't be visible if covered by a layer of fat. Interested in learning more about abs? Read more about this topic here.