The Doctor Prescribes: Sleep And Exercise – Here’s Why And How Much

Most of us would agree that sleep is important for everyone (of course), but especially for those of us who work out several times a week. There’s a big difference between a morning workout after a solid night’s rest and a workout where you’re running on fumes. No matter how many caffeinated gels you consume, it’s just not the same — and it’s not sustainable over time. If sleep is such a crucial part of fitness, why then is it usually the first thing that’s sacrificed when you have too much on your plate? Sleep is how training manifests itself in the body, but it’s often neglected to the detriment of fitness performance and results. Enough is enough. Dr. Meeta Singh has a thing or two to say about why athletes and avid exercisers need to prioritize sleep as much as their individual workouts. She specializes in sleep disorders, obstructive and central sleep apnea and, you guessed it, sports medicine. Singh has worked with athletes in the biggest sporting organizations in the world, including the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, and MLS, where she educates athletes about the importance of sleep and how to make informed sleep-friendly decisions. Here she breaks down everything from how lack of sleep impacts fitness performance, recovery and the results you get from working out and shares her go-to tips on how to improve your sleep quality and how to figure out your personal sleep need. Long story short, counting sheep should be prescribed daily on every athlete’s and exerciser’s training calendar. How does lack of sleep affect fitness And Performance? This list isn’t comprehensive since we’re learning more and more about how sleep affects every aspect of human performance. Because sleep is important for optimal reaction times, motor function, focus, motivation, glucose metabolism, memory […]

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