Two weeks ago I started a series where I’m explaining the 3 biggest mistakes that prevent you from losing weight. Catch up here if you didn’t read the first and second mistakes.

The third mistake is not getting enough sleep – a big problem for firefighters. Lack of sleep has been shown to both cause weight gain and impede weight loss efforts.

The likely reason is because your body turns up your hunger sense when you’re tired. Without enough sleep your body senses that you’re low on energy. If you’re energy deficient then you must need more fuel, and that means more calories. Hence, it kicks your hunger into overdrive.

This is why you feel like a bottomless pit when you’re tired.

Getting more sleep alone could help you lose weight – and then there’s the positive side effects of feeling better, looking better and being healthier!

If you find yourself sleep deprived remind yourself that the hunger isn’t because you actually need the calories, your body just thinks you do. What you need is sleep.

When I’m sleep deprived and feeling famished all day, I’ve found that (second to taking a nap) doing something to get my heart rate up helps to get rid of those misguided hunger signals.

Do you have more questions about hunger and weight loss? Let me know in the comments below.

If you’re not on my list to get more health tips like these, enter your name and email below.