What Happens to Your Body When You Sleep for Only 4 Hours a Night For a Week

Find out what happens to your body when you sleep for only 4 hours a night for a week. But you don’t have to do it yourself. You can rely on the experience of Hudson from the Buff Dudes.

The Buff Dudes is a YouTube channel with over 2.5 million subscribers. Despite the name of the channel, brothers Hudson and Brandon White are not your stereotypical bro-gym. They deliver clear information with a good background story while poking fun at how buffed they are.

In a somewhat different video that we are accustomed to from them, Hudson was sleeping 8-9 hours a day, eating well and training hard with high levels of energy. Then he decided to try to sleep only 4 hours a day for a week to see how that would impact his body and mind.

See it all below.

What Happens to Your Body When You Sleep for Only 4 Hours a Night For a Week

Hudson’s plan was to continue working out as normally as possible. Although he was sleeping only 4 hours a day for a week, he didn’t have that much free time for his own workouts because he just got a second baby born the week prior.

Because of that, he did supersets to cramp up as much training as possible in as little time as possible to continue with his hypertrophy routine.

The lack of sleep might make you feel irritated and you could use it to eat garbage or easily digestible junk food. Dieting is the most important thing when trying to stay or get in shape. No matter how much you work out, your nutrition needs to be in tune too.

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Meal prepping might be your best bet. If you know you are not going to sleep much, prepare in advance the food you are going to need later and save time.

In the end, what happens to your body when you sleep for only 4 hours a day for a week? You get very, very tired. See below for more details.

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Why is Sleep Important for the Human Body?

Sleep is essential for the human body to function optimally. It is a natural process that allows the body to rest, restore, and recharge. There are numerous reasons why sleep is important for the human body, including:

Rest and restoration: Sleep provides the body with the opportunity to rest and restore itself. During sleep, the body repairs damaged tissues, rejuvenates the immune system, and consolidates memories.

Cognitive function: Sleep is essential for optimal cognitive function, including memory consolidation, learning, attention, and problem-solving. Lack of sleep can impair these functions and decrease overall cognitive performance.

Physical health: Adequate sleep is necessary for physical health. It is associated with a reduced risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.

Emotional regulation: Sleep plays a crucial role in emotional regulation. Lack of sleep can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and irritability, while adequate sleep can help regulate emotions and improve overall mental health.

Hormonal balance: Sleep helps regulate the release of hormones, including those that control hunger, metabolism, and stress. Lack of sleep can disrupt these hormones, leading to weight gain, mood swings, and other health issues.

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How Much Sleep Do Humans Need?

The amount of sleep humans need varies depending on their age, lifestyle, and individual needs. The National Sleep Foundation recommends the following sleep durations for different age groups:

• Newborns (0-3 months): 14-17 hours per day
• Infants (4-11 months): 12-15 hours per day
• Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours per day
• Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10-13 hours per day
• School-age children (6-13 years): 9-11 hours per day
• Teenagers (14-17 years): 8-10 hours per day
• Adults (18-64 years): 7-9 hours per day
• Older adults (65 years and older): 7-8 hours per day

It is important to note that these are general guidelines and individuals may have different sleep needs. Some people may require more or less sleep than the recommended hours, and this can vary based on factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and overall health.

It is also important to prioritize the quality of sleep, as well as the quantity. Quality sleep means getting enough deep, restorative sleep cycles throughout the night, which can be impacted by factors such as sleep disorders, stress, and environmental factors like noise or light.

Source: Александар Цветановић / Pexels

How Does Sleep Help Muscle Growth?

Sleep is essential for muscle growth and recovery, as it allows the body to repair and rebuild damaged tissues that occur during exercise or other physical activities. Here are some ways that sleep can help with muscle growth:

Hormonal balance: During sleep, the body releases growth hormone, which is essential for muscle growth and repair. Adequate sleep helps regulate the release of growth hormone, which can increase muscle mass and improve overall body composition.

Protein synthesis: Sleep also plays a crucial role in protein synthesis, which is the process by which the body builds and repairs muscle tissues. Protein synthesis occurs during sleep, and lack of sleep can decrease this process, leading to slower muscle growth and recovery.

Energy restoration: Sleep is essential for restoring the body’s energy levels, which is crucial for muscle growth and recovery. During sleep, the body replenishes its energy stores, which can help improve performance during exercise and promote muscle growth.

Reduced inflammation: Lack of sleep can increase inflammation in the body, which can impair muscle recovery and growth. Adequate sleep can help reduce inflammation and improve overall recovery and muscle growth.

In summary, sleep is crucial for muscle growth and recovery. It plays a role in regulating hormones, promoting protein synthesis, restoring energy levels, and reducing inflammation, all of which are essential for building and repairing muscle tissues.

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