“Fat talk” is getting increasingly common among college-age women. But new research suggests no one wants to be around the gal that’s griping about her weight gain. How can we discuss body image issues in a positive way?
Login
Dear Greatist: Which Is More Important, Sleep or Exercise?
Is it healthier to get 6 hours of sleep + a workout, or just 8 hours of sleep with no workout? #dailyDilemma — acohenNY via Twitter
We here at Greatist loooove writing about the link between sleep and exercise, but we haven’t tackled this particular question yet— mostly because there is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Here's what I can tell you for sure: If you get plenty of sleep but start to feel groggy mid-day, heading to the gym can be a quick pick-me-up. On the flip side, working out can also help us sleep more soundly at night (as long as you don't exercise right before hitting the sack). But things get tricky when it comes to choosing between snoozing and working out. For starters, we don't all need the same amount of sleep. While the average person requires seven to nine hours a night, one study found some people can thrive on as little as four. And while I'd hardly recommend trying to function on only four hours of snooze time, it’s worth noting your sleep needs may be different from your gym buddy's. So some might be fine heading to the gym after just six hours of sleep, while others need the extra rest time.
And missing out on necessary sleep is bad news. It can cause us to eat more fatty foods and gain weight— not to mention sleep is the all-important time our body uses to repair itself. Instead of sacrificing a full two hours of sleep, focus on getting exercise without a marathon gym visit. "One of the variables of a workout is duration," says Greatist Expert Linda LaRue. "I can't imagine anyone not having time to devote at least three times a week to a reasonable higher intensity 20- to 30-minute workout." And she makes a good point. While taking a quick snooze on your desk is probably a poor choice, it's a lot easier to work quick bouts of exercise into your day. Get up just 20 minutes early and walk to work at a brisk pace. Or try any of these 20 tips to speed up a workout.
Have you ever had to choose between exercise and sleep? What are your favorite tips to fit both into a busy schedule? Tell us in the comments below!
Related Posts
Life (and workouts) can get stressful, but Greatist has you covered with our newest inspirational poster!
Is it possible to create a real human ear from a 3D printer? We examine one lab who claims to have created one of the first successful versions. Read on to find out how — and if — we'll be printing our health in the near future.
Not a member? Sign up now!
Comments Leave a comment
With a little bit of planning, we all can squeeze in sleep and exercise with a busy schedule. Look at your upcoming day, or even better upcoming week. Do you have any "in between" times in your schedule? Where will you be? Just squeeze in any type of exercise during those times. Don't have time to go to the gym?, then I bang out some exercises in my basement. Traveling and in a hotel? Then do some sit ups, push ups, crunches etc in my hotel room or hit the tread mill in the hotel fitness center. Have 20 minutes before your next meeting? Then take a brisk walk.
Sleep for me, on the other, is not flexible. Sleep is always a priority and much harder to squeeze a little sleep time.
When it comes down to it, I don't think anyone is really too busy to squeeze some form of exercise into their day. Push-ups, sit-ups, and a short run don't take THAT much time! it comes down do just laziness / lack of motivation.
Sleep is always going to be pretty high on my priority list.
Nice to see an article that isn't one-size-fits-all; kudos to you! Personally, most workouts are horrible if I'm sleepy or haven't properly recovered from a prior workout. Therefore, I prefer to skip a workout to reduce me risk for injury.