Sleep more, eat less... sounds dreamy, right?

Last week, I challenged you to keep track of you sleep. I'm definitely interested to hear what you learned as a result of jotting a few things down.
 
I just read an article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that suggested a link between lack of sleep and increased sugar cravings. I know you know "sugar isn't good for you" and that sweets= empty calories, but have you ever thought about how your sleep is impacting what you eat?
 
This specific study showed that the group encouraged to stay in bed longer not only ate less added sugar but also ate less overall(!) This suggests that getting more sleep, while we all know it's good for us, actually makes it easier for you to make healthy choices in other areas of your life.
 
A great book recommendation, if you're interested in this, is The Power of When by Dr. Michael Breus. In this book he explains the power of your circadian rhythm (your body's sleep/wake cycle) in your physiology. Based on the time of day, you are more likely to experience hormonal shifts which can cause sleepiness, alertness, or increase in your creative flow. He gives examples for each type and explains the best timing for everything from exercising to manage weight, maximizing your creativity and having difficult conversations. This research will show you how to work with your body to maximize your life- which you know I'm all about!
 
There are four distinct subtypes of sleep personalities:
 
Lions- these are the "early to bed, early to rise" type. You tend to be the go-getters of the group and the first one to the office in the morning.  
Bears- you innately prefer a sun up to sun down schedule. You tend to be outgoing and gregarious and relational by nature. (I'm a bear)
Wolves- you may have a hard time getting going, but you out last the rest of them and stay up into the early morning hours. These tend to be the creative, risk takers of the group.
Dolphins- these are the sporadic sleepers; similar to an actual dolphin, half of your brain is always "on". You may be the a new parent or just able to keep a lot of plates in the air.
 
Take the test and find out your preferred sleep style here. (it's less than a minute and well worth your time!)

Comment below, let me know what your sleep type is!