Fitness Friday

It's no secret that a full night of uninterrupted slumber can make things much easier for us the following day.

Because after all, when we sleep well, we're much more inclined to live well. Healthy sleep finds us more alert, more refreshed, more productive and most certainly more responsive.

Getting the rest we need keeps our eyes bright and our energy levels high. Moreover, sleep is an integral element of training. Without enough, your body simply won't have the time or biological resources to reach its full potential.

Sadly, getting a good night's sleep isn't always as easy as it sounds.

We're often quick to forget that while we sleep, there's a lot going on. As we slip into our nightly nocturne, our body continues on as if it were business as usual.

The cardiovascular system pumps and circulates the blood we need to live. The brain keeps busy by sending millions of neurotransmissions every second. The metabolic system continues to convert calories into the energy that makes this never-ending series of biological processes possible.

The benefits of a good night's sleep extend far beyond how well we're able to function the following day. Because the simple truth is that the quality of our days is often heavily influenced by the quality of our nights. I'll explain.

A study conducted at the University of British Columbia suggests that people who sleep less than 5 hours per night are 39% more likely to develop heart disease than those who register a full seven to eight hours per night.

Moreover, depriving the body of quality Z's can raise blood pressure and may also contribute to the formation of varicose veins as well. If high-impact and cardio training is something that you consider a fixed part of your training, this should be of key concern.

Before hastily blaming our bathroom scales for unexplained weight gain, it's important to make sure that we're spending enough time lost in peaceful dreams. Researchers at the University of Chicago have determined that sleep deprivation (even in the most modest amounts) can interfere with how efficiently the body regulates the release of cortisol.

This stress-related hormone is produced by the adrenal gland, and plays a significant role in hunger, stress and appetite. What's worse, excessive cortisol levels can interfere with the production of serotonin. As a result, we may feel depressed and hungry - even in situations when we've eaten to the point of being full.

Believe it or not, that groggy feeling you experience after a night of tossing and turning all night has a physiological explanation. Somewhere between the time our head hits the pillow to the time we hurl blunt objects at our alarm clocks, our brain's third shift goes to work.

Sleep's job, in a nutshell, is to repair damaged cells, replenish neurotransmitters, restore our immune system and recharge us for the following day. Not getting the sleep you need prevents these absolutely imperative processes from taking place. This can ultimately leave you dazed, down, and uninspired- exactly the opposite of how we WANT and NEED to feel to have productive days.

Do yourself a favor and go to bed early tonight!