{"id":998114,"date":"2026-08-13T12:39:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T12:39:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/998114\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T12:39:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T12:39:26","slug":"struggling-to-lose-weight-your-sleep-could-be-working-against-you-expert-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/998114\/","title":{"rendered":"Struggling to lose weight? Your sleep could be working against you, expert says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">One weekly routine could help foster better sleep and promote healthy <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240691\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/nutrition-and-fitness\/weight-loss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">weight loss<\/a>, according to a New Jersey-based registered dietitian.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">Erin Palinski-Wade, who is also a certified diabetes care specialist and author of &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Sleepdemic-Solution-Restore-Metabolism-Fighting\/dp\/B0H5Y428X9\/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vTCbZbnnppsrZSr5WqKZClb5tfQf8kulqBGatnSil0p307DLaWZVT7B0xjDq9jTZ_FhgTPqN3j-xisgaqeAKj6UMgoeQsDTukFVu-gfSMbz9LJE-Dhg-Y2Ym_0UeJJzB.UkJIsceZw5g_-kgyL-M41PilufxkR5PQZRu4Pg1qyPU&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;qid=1786592031&amp;refinements=p_27%3AErin+Palinski-Wade&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Sleepdemic Solution<\/a>,&#8221; shared her &#8220;seven-day reset&#8221; in an interview with Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The reset combines sleep, nutrition and lifestyle strategies into a five-part system represented by the acronym SLEEP.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240693\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\/skipping-sleep-may-pack-pounds-faster-than-you-think-new-study-finds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>SKIPPING SLEEP MAY PACK ON POUNDS FASTER THAN YOU THINK, NEW STUDY FINDS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In a test panel conducted in connection with her seven-day program, Palinski-Wade said participants reported improvements in sleep, blood sugar and weight.<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/erin-palinski-wade-still.jpg\" alt=\"erin palinski wade holds up book\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade joined Fox News Digital for an interview to discuss her new book, &#8220;The Sleepdemic Solution.&#8221; (Angelica Stabile\/Fox News Digital)<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Experts recommend consulting a <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240694\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/health-care\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">healthcare professional<\/a> for individualized guidance before making significant changes to diet, sleep or lifestyle habits, particularly for those with underlying health conditions.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240695\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\/popular-weight-loss-drugs-help-protect-against-deadly-disease-doctor-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>POPULAR WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS MAY HELP PROTECT AGAINST A DEADLY DISEASE, DOCTOR SAYS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Palinski-Wade emphasized that results varied among participants with different sleep challenges. The panel included shift workers, mothers and people with <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240696\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/sleep-disorders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">long-term insomnia<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Despite those differences, within the first two to three days, the expert said people &#8220;across the board&#8221; reported falling asleep faster, getting higher-quality sleep and feeling more rested the next day.<\/p>\n<p> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/older-man-sleeping.jpg\" alt=\"Older man sleeping in bed\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>People &#8220;across the board&#8221; reported falling asleep faster, getting higher-quality sleep and feeling more rested the next day, the nutritionist said. (iStock)<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Panelists with pre-existing insulin resistance or <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240697\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/diabetes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">type 2 diabetes<\/a> also reported improvements in blood sugar levels, Palinski-Wade said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Once they were resting better and those <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240698\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/mental-health\/stress-and-anxiety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">stress hormones<\/a> were reduced, and the body was getting the rest it needed, we were seeing better balanced blood sugar throughout the day,&#8221; she noted.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Participants also reported improvements in hunger and satiety.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240699\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\/doctors-say-8-forgotten-habits-could-help-fight-stress-obesity-chronic-disease\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>DOCTORS SAY 8 FORGOTTEN HABITS COULD HELP FIGHT STRESS, OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;They weren&#8217;t having those cravings, especially in the evening, especially those sugar cravings,&#8221; Palinski-Wade said. &#8220;When they were eating, they were feeling more satisfied.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;I had a few test panel members <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240700\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/nutrition-and-fitness\/weight-loss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">who lost<\/a> as much as seven pounds in the first seven days,&#8221; she said, noting that some of the loss was water weight.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Participants reported reductions in weight and waist circumference and improvements in blood sugar, sleep and next-day energy.<\/p>\n<p>The Reset<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Below, Palinski-Wade breaks down the five components of the SLEEP system.<\/p>\n<p><strong>S \u2013 Set your rhythm<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/eating-late-at-night.jpg\" alt=\"By the end, the researchers concluded nearly 60 percent of participants skipped breakfast, roughly 50 percent ate late-night dinners, while 41 percent adhered to both eating habits.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Setting a rhythm involves timing meals consistently to help improve sleep. This means avoiding skipped meals, which can lead to blood sugar fluctuations throughout the day. (iStock)<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Setting a rhythm involves timing meals consistently to help improve sleep. This means avoiding skipped meals, which can lead to blood sugar fluctuations throughout the day, Palinski-Wade said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240701\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;We want to be fueling our body all throughout the day so that our body is expecting to sleep in the evening,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Skipping meals and consuming excess food and calories in the evening tells the body that it&#8217;s time to burn energy, which is not going to be conducive to sleep, according to the expert.<\/p>\n<p><strong>L \u2013 Leveraging light<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/woman-sleeping-phone-alarm-clock.jpg\" alt=\"Woman lying in bed reaches for her smartphone.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Getting exposure to sunlight in the morning and limiting exposure at night will help set a natural circadian rhythm. (iStock)<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Exposure to sunlight within the first hour of waking can help set the body\u2019s circadian rhythm, Palinski-Wade noted.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;When your body gets that <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240702\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/science\/air-and-space\/sun\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">natural light<\/a>, whether you go outside or put your desk by the window, that&#8217;s helping your body get more in tune with that rhythm where you&#8217;re awake,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In the evening, Palinski-Wade recommends dimming the lights and avoiding electronics and bright overhead lighting, which helps the body wind down and prepare for restful sleep.<\/p>\n<p><strong>E \u2013 Eat with intention<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/adding-banana-to-smoothie.jpg\" alt=\"Woman prepares a healthy breakfast at a kitchen table.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Eating with intention means choosing meals and snacks with nutrients that support healthy sleep, the expert said. (iStock)<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Eating with intention means choosing meals and snacks with <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240704\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/nutrition-and-fitness\/nutrition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">nutrients<\/a> that support healthy sleep, according to Palinski-Wade.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/newsletters?cmpid=fnfirstnl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;Whether it&#8217;s serotonin and tryptophan, anti-inflammatory nutrients, we want to make sure that we&#8217;re eating with intention, so we&#8217;re giving our body the building blocks it needs to create sleep in the evening,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p><strong>E \u2013 Evening out blood sugar<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Palinski-Wade recommends combining <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240706\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/food-drink\/food\/healthy-foods\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">lean protein<\/a>, healthy fats and fiber to help keep blood sugar steady throughout the day and support better sleep.<\/p>\n<p><strong>P \u2013 Powering down your night<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/restless-sleep.jpg\" alt=\"Teenage girl checks smartphone time in bed at night\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/> <\/p>\n<p>Powering down electronics at night will help induce more sound sleep. (iStock)<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Powering down involves creating a consistent nighttime routine, including <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240707\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/tech\/technologies\/smartphones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">limiting electronics<\/a> and caffeine and maintaining regular sleep and wake times, according to Palinski-Wade.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;That also applies to having a set bedtime and a set wake time &#8230; in those seven days to reset that circadian rhythm, so we can have the best results moving forward,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"pull-quote\">\n<p class=\"quote-text\">&#8220;We want to be fueling our body all throughout the day so that our body is expecting to sleep in the evening.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">For those who are &#8220;trying everything,&#8221; like <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240708\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/nutrition-and-fitness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">diet and exercise<\/a>, without seeing results, Palinski-Wade stressed that it is &#8220;not because you don\u2019t have enough willpower.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It could just be your biology working against you, and many times it&#8217;s as simple as improving your sleep,&#8221; she said. &#8220;If you start to improve your sleep within just a few days, you can see major changes in how you feel, how your body is processing food, in your metabolism, and then ultimately in your body weight.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240709\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/lifestyle\/quizzes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">External research by the National Institutes of Health has also linked adequate sleep with appetite regulation and healthy weight management.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute states that sleep helps regulate hormones involved in hunger and fullness, while sleep deficiency can affect the body&#8217;s response to insulin and has been linked to a higher <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_main-content_article-body_6_4240710\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/nutrition-and-fitness\/obesity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">risk of obesity<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! One weekly routine could help foster better sleep and promote&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":998115,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[11],"tags":[210,10236,1165,4270,1182,300,67,132,68,428,3149],"class_list":["post-998114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-health","tag-health","tag-healthy-living","tag-lifestyle","tag-longevity","tag-nutrition","tag-sleep-disorders","tag-united-states","tag-unitedstates","tag-us","tag-weight-loss","tag-wellness"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/117088250264065682","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/998114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=998114"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/998114\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/998115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=998114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=998114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=998114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}