Yes… it is possible to lose or gain weight while you sleep!  This based on daily calorie intake, exercise and what are you eating at dinner and before you go to bed.

Eating a bowl of popcorn, potato chips and drinking a coke one hour before you go to bed will help you gain a few calories while you sleep, as opposed to eating an orange or a banana.

Sleep in of itself allows the growth hormone to adequately work on tissue and cellular repair, resulting in burned calories for the individual.  For example, a woman that is 5’5″ (163 cm), that sleeps 7 hours, will burn approximately 489 calories.  A man with the height of 5′ 10″ (1,75 cm), that sleeps for 7 hours, burns approximately 540 calories.

Additional weightloss can be promoted while we’re sleeping by slightly raising  our metabolism a few ours before bedtime.  Complete your exercise regiment 3-4 hours before bedtime, so that you are not so stimulated that you are unable to rest, yet you’ve promoted your metabolism to function at a higher rate.  Additionally, have dinner  4 hours before going to bed so that your dinner stays in your duodenum, the first part of the small intestine for 4 hours (before moving onto  the second part of the small intestine). If you digest food closer to your bedtime it will result in a restless sleep pattern for you.

To encourage weightloss, dinner should include 4oz  (114g) of protein: Fish, Poultry, Pork, or Lean Beef. Accompanied by 3 servings of vegetables and a fruit.  (1 serving of bread or pasta optional).  A serving of fruit or vegetables is the equivalent of a 1/2 cup, salads are 1 cup for a serving. 

Dinner (example)      

Begin with a glass of water 10-15 minutes before eating your meal. Promotes hydration and slows down eating, contributes to satiety (feeling full at end of meal).                                    

4 oz salmon

salad with 1/2 cup tomatoes (vinaigrette dressing 1-2 tbsp)

bowl of lentil soup (Optional: add 1 cup cooked pasta.)

1 medium orange

1 oz or 28 g of walnuts

Glass of wine

Nutrition facts: 1-Protein, 2-Omega 3 (alimentary fat, great for the HEART!!), 5-Fiber, 1-bread optional

(If opting for pasta (60 g), mix in 1/2 to 1 cup steamed or sauteed vegetable.  May pass with crushed nuts or Parmesan Cheese.)

Wine has also been linked to weightloss, because of it’s active polyphenols/antioxidants that work hard to get rid of toxins in the body.  Red wine is a great source of Vitamin C and E.  A few of their benefits contribute to the health of our skin and eyes.

By Kimberly Crocker