When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.

You’ve started the year with the best intentions of cutting back on the junk food and exercising regularly.

Then you have a sleepless night and it all goes out the window.

A woman with red hair wearing a white, yellow and navy stripey shirt sitting at desk yawning with a mug in hand and a pastry on plate on desk in front of computer

You’re not alone.

One of the most common new year’s resolutions is fitness and weight loss related.

Why do we eat more when we’re tired?

A woman sitting at a desk with a laptop open surrounded by junk food (burgers, pizzas, spaghetti)

Sleep has a huge impact on weight loss.

The hormones in question are ghrelin and leptin."

Simultaneously, leptin, the hormone responsible for signaling satiety or fullness, decreases.

Woman staying awake in bed

This imbalance creates a potent combination: you feel hungrier than usual and less satisfied after meals."

Add tiredness into the mix and it seems ten times harder.

Those extra calories can stack up, sabotaging your new year’s weight loss resolutions.

A man wearing black lycra running through field with rising sun shining behind him

How does poor sleep affect metabolism?

It’s already a bleak picture for your weight loss goals when you’re sleep deprived.

This inefficiency can lead to higher blood sugar levels and increased fat storage, particularly around the abdomen."

Woman drinking a hot drink

Dr Kaylor says: “Poor sleep affects your behavior too.

This is because muscle burns more calories at rest than fat.

So, without adequate exercise your body is even less efficient at breaking down food into energy.

A woman looking inside a fridge to decide what to eat as a nighttime snack

Therefore, prioritizing it should be the first step you take when looking to make better lifestyle choices.

Asleep-inducing drinkor hot shower are also great additions to a bedtime ritual.

Ensure your sleep environment is comfortable

A comfortable and clean bedroom can do wonders for your sleep quality.

A woman with dark hair lies in bed yawning because she is so tired and ready to sleep

Having aclutter-free sleep spacehelps reduce stress so it’s possible for you to drift off peacefully.

There are many reasons why drinking water helps sleep andresearchshows inadequate hydration is associated with short sleep duration.

Nap if you need it

Granted, daytime naps aren’t possible for everyone.

Young woman is wide awake at night and wants to fall back to sleep fast

They are a far-fetched dream for busy parents and full time workers.

A woman lies in bed with her hands covering her face, looking upset due to sleep deprivation. A Tom�s Guide Sleep Week 2025 graphic, bottom left

A sleep week badge in the corner of a picture that depicts a woman smiling as she is getting more sleep.

The image shows a sleep deprived woman lying in bed and holding her hands over her eyes

A chocolate Easter egg in pink tin foil next to image of blonde woman in purple star patterned pyjamas struggling to sleep in bed with white sheets

Woman lying down on the bed and smiling feeling comfortable

A woman lying on her side sleeping with a handdrawn thought bubble over her head to show she�s thinking

A woman with dark brown hair lies on her side staring at the back of a white alarm clock that shows the time as 2.30am

A woman with short brown hair sitting on bed with white sheets with a glass of green Spirulina smoothie in hand

A person holding a Nintendo Switch 2 playing Mario Kart World

2025 Rivian R1S Tri-Motor test drive review.

ChatGPT generated image

Garmin Vivoactive 6 in emerald green with the Morning Report shown on the screen

2025 Toyota bZ4X at New York Auto Show.

Image of a Saatva Viewing Room where a range of Saatva mattresses and sleep products are on display and available to test before buying