Just back from the big 4th of July weekend and about ready to put your head down on the desk and take a nap? Even this morning in Jazzercise, the exerciser next to me said she was exhausted, and thought she would return all rested and energized. Well I am feeling very tired myself, so a closer look at why I am so sleepy is in order. I’ve got 3 good reasons, so read on and find out what they are.
Blood Sugar Effects
I remember eating a lot of hot dogs with white buns, chips, ice cream – all high glycemic carbs that enter your bloodstream fast and then crash your blood sugar just as fast. (Thank goodness I don’t eat like that all the time!) That leads to a groggy crashing feeling and if you eat like that all weekend, you can bet you will feel pretty sleepy. Did you eat like this over the weekend?
Hormone Effects
Once again, those high glycemic carbs are the culprit again. They activate your brain to produce serotonin, a chemical that allows for calm and pleasant moods, while making tryptophan, the chemical responsible for sleepiness, more available to your brain. This is another reason high carb meals make you sleepy, says the National Sleep Foundation. So now you get a double whammy from eating all that junk food.
Overeating Effects
Tell the truth now. Did you overeat over the holiday? I know I did. Because it was there and there weren’t a lot of alternatives and it tasted great! (that is your carb addiction talking at that point, right?)
Overeating is one of the most common causes of eating-induced sleepiness. After eating, your body routes more blood to your digestive system. Meals excessive in size require even more blood, which causes temporary deprivation of blood and nutrients in your brain and residual grogginess.
So that’s what has been causing me to be sleepy all the time! And you too?
Here is a solution.
I’m starting a new program that helps me stop those carb cravings and get back on a track of healthy eating to restore my energy level and stop feeling dragged out all the time. Want to join me?
Call me right now and I’ll tell you all about it.
507-313-4515.