You might think that sleep is not important if you are trying to get fit and build muscle. You would be wrong. In fact, sleep has a massive impact on building muscle – and its lack negatively affects your workout. Without proper rest, your muscles will not grow as large as they could, you will not be able to burn off fat as easily, and your technique may suffer. Let’s take a closer look at how bad sleep affects your workout…
Hypertrophy (muscle growth)
If you are not getting enough sleep, your muscles will not grow as fast as they could. This is because during sleep, your body releases growth hormone, which helps to repair and rebuild muscle tissue. This is why it is so important to get a good night’s sleep if you are lifting weights – your muscles need time to recover and grow.
Cell damage reduction and repair
Sleep is also important for reducing cell damage and repairing cells. When you workout, you create tiny tears in your muscle cells. These need to be repaired in order for your muscles to grow larger and stronger. Sleep is when your body does most of its repair work, so if you are not getting enough rest, your muscles will not be able to recover properly. As seen with City Mattress, you can improve the quality of your sleep by choosing the right mattress for your needs. If you are not mindful about the quality and quantity of your sleep, you are actually doing more damage than good when you workout.
Glycogen replenishment (storing energy for later use)
Sleep is also important for replenishing glycogen stores. Glycogen is a type of sugar that your body uses for energy. When you workout, your body burns through glycogen stores quickly. If you do not replenish them, you will not have enough energy to workout at your best. Sleep is when your body does most of its glycogen replenishment, so if you are not getting enough rest, your body will not have enough energy to workout at its best. This can lead to fatigue, poor performance, and even injuries. So if you want to workout at your best, make sure you are getting enough sleep.
Motor pattern memorization (technique improvements)
When you are learning a new motor skill, such as a new exercise or lifting technique, sleep is important for consolidating that motor memory. This means that if you are not getting enough sleep, you will not be able to improve your technique as quickly. This can lead to frustration, as you feel like you are not making progress. So if you want to improve your lifting technique, make sure you are getting enough sleep.
Up-regulation/down-regulation of certain hormones
Finally, sleep is important for regulating certain hormones. For example, testosterone and growth hormone are two important hormones for muscle growth. If you are not getting enough sleep, your body will not be able to produce as much of these hormones, which can lead to slower muscle growth. So if you want to maximize your muscle growth, make sure you are getting enough sleep.
As you can see, sleep is incredibly important for your workout. If you are not getting enough rest, you will not be able to perform at your best, and you will not see the results you want. So make sure you are getting enough sleep – your body will thank you for it!
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
