I must confess that sleeping is one of my favorite things to do.  However, it was not always this way for me. When I was younger, I found it quite difficult to catch those Zs, as I thought it was a waste of time. But when I turned 18, everything changed. I began training with weights six days a week, played all kinds of sports, had a full-time job and went to school. It was because of my busy lifestyle that I found a new appreciation for my bed.

Sleep is perhaps best described as the loss of awareness of what is going on around us. Public awareness of fitness and nutrition has grown over the last few years but sadly, little is known about the very important subject of sleep deprivation. Studies show that those who suffer from sleep deprivation have a reduced ability to handle stress, poor concentration and memory, slower reflexes, difficulty accomplishing tasks and diminished enjoyment of relationships. Though many people think that the human body will be okay with just three to four hours of sleep, the fact is that while sleep requirements are greatly individualized, the majority of people require seven or eight hours to function optimally.

Getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night is a proven way to improve workout performance and radically improve your physique development efforts. Another very important fact about sleep is that it repairs your muscles, which guarantees a better and stronger physique.

So the next time you are thinking about neglecting sleep, think again. Your body and mind will be glad that you did.