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Can You Burn Calories While Sleeping?

Rahul Thadani
Not many people believe that the human body is capable of shedding calories while sleeping. Though this is not a very effective way, it does play a small part in the entire process.
You're attempting to stick to a fixed workout regime, but somehow can't get rid of the calories. You want to burn up those but it's not happening. Here's a solution. Do so while you sleep. That your body is burning calories while you sleep is a fact that is not known to many people and even people who have heard it, find it hard to believe. But it's true.

Burning Calories

The burning of calories in your body is included in the process of metabolism. The metabolic rate of a persons body determines how fast these are burned in that persons system. If you consume 2,000 calories and your metabolic rate is such that it burns up only 1,500, then you will gain weight.
Some people are naturally blessed with high metabolism rates and as a result they do not put on weight, no matter how much junk food they may eat. Their metabolic rates are fast enough to burn all the calories that enter their body. You can learn how to increase your metabolic rate using some metabolism boosters.
The burning of calories in a human body provides energy and it's intensity is determined by three main functions - to carry out physical activities, Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and lastly, for dietary thermo genesis. Each of these three different factors contribute to the burning of the calories in varying proportions.
It is a known fact that you burn calories by performing exercises. But it is also true that your body is also doing the same during sleep as well. This is not as easy as it sounds and it definitely does not mean that you can simply sleep and expect to lose weight. The basic idea behind this concept is that muscle burns more calories than fat.
In quantifiable terms, muscle can burn up to nine times the amount of calories that fat can burn. What this implies is that the more muscles you develop in your body, the more calories you can burn.

How Many Calories Do You Burn While Sleeping?

Surely this is the next question that comes to mind now. The speed of calorie shedding will differ from person to person. Each person will have their own Body Mass Index and Basal Metabolic Rate, and the personal habits of the individual will also determine, how much is actually burned when a person is sleeping.
The healthy intake of calories for an average human body is said to be around 2.000 per day. And for every 3,500 that are added to the body, an individual will put one 1 pound of weight. Here are some pointers that will show you how to burn more during sleep.
  • The first step is to build as much muscle mass as you can. Start a weightlifting regimen to build up your muscle.
  • Green tea is known to increase the metabolic rate of a person. Drinking green tea before going to bed will aid in the burning process.
  • Get enough sleep. If you sleep for only 6 hours or lesser your body will not get enough time to burn all the calories that you have consumed during the day.
  • When sleeping the body generated more energy to keep warm. So if you turn down the heater, you will make your body burn up more calories.
  • Try to avoid consuming carbohydrates at least 5 hours before you go to bed.
You may have heard it being said many times that eating before going to bed is harmful for you, as all the fat will get stored in the body. But on the contrary, eating before you go to bed is useful because by doing so you are providing your muscles all the amino acids required for burning fat.
Though sleeping is not one of the best ways to lose weight, this does not mean that the body does not burn calories. If dietary and lifestyle habits are altered, then you can burn a lot more than you hoped for.