Why Sleep Has Been the Missing Piece in My Fitness Journey

When I first started my fitness journey, I thought weight loss was simply about counting calories and doing the workouts. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that sleep plays a vital role in weight loss and fitness performance. It impacts not just my recovery, but also how strong and focused I feel during every workout.

This summer has been a rollercoaster of emotions and weight fluctuations. Poor sleep, hot and humid nights, water retention, and less-than-ideal food choices took a toll on both my physical and mental health. At times, it almost completely derailed me. I even told a friend the other day that I felt like a “beached whale.”

But then something shifted. After two nights of restful sleep, I had a lightbulb moment: the scale dropped back to where it was at the start of the month, and for the first time all summer, I felt like myself again. That progress? 100% tied to sleep.

---

How Sleep Affects Workouts and Weight Loss

The difference is night and day. After a good night’s rest, I have more energy, less brain fog, and far more focus in the gym. Thursday I tackled an upper body endurance workout, and it was the best I’ve felt in weeks. Even my son has noticed—he says he performs better in his workouts when he’s had a solid night of sleep.

When I sleep well, I:

• Have more energy for strength training.
• Stay sharper and avoid distractions mid-workout.
• Recover faster between endurance sets.

Walkouts (my nemesis!) felt smoother, with fewer breaks to catch my breath. And while treadmill running is still not my favorite, I know better sleep gives me the stamina to push through.

Experts always say that sleep is essential for muscle recovery and repair, and I’ve shared that advice with friends on their own journeys. But feeling the difference for myself was eye-opening. My new program is still challenging me every day, but when I’m well-rested, I wake up sore and motivated instead of just sore and exhausted.

---

My Sleep Routine for Better Recovery

To make rest and recovery a true part of my wellness plan, I’ve started focusing on habits that improve my sleep quality:

• Listening to my body when it’s telling me to wind down.
• Avoiding workouts past 7 p.m. so I can relax in the evenings.
• Creating a calming bedtime routine—even if that means going to bed as early as 8:30 p.m.

I also use natural support when I need an extra push:

• Shaklee’s Rest and Rewind (with lemon balm extract) helps ease into a restorative sleep.
• Sleep Health helps me fall asleep faster and stay asleep with the support of GABA.

I don’t take them every night, but I love having them for tough training days or when traveling. You can check them out [on my Shaklee site](https://ca.shaklee.com/en_CA/stacyhood/).

---

The Bigger Picture: Health Is 360°

Fitness and weight loss aren’t just about the gym or the kitchen—they’re also about sleep. Your body needs rest to repair, recover, and rebuild. Don’t feel guilty for getting eight hours of sleep; it’s one of the best tools you have for hitting your goals. And when you’re consistently well-rested, those occasional late nights won’t hit you nearly as hard.

So, if you’ve been stuck in a plateau or feeling drained, look at your sleep. It might just be the missing piece.

I’d love to hear from you—what are your biggest sleep wins (or struggles) on your journey? Share them with me below!