Lack of sleep can derail best-laid fitness plans. While hitting the gym regularly, setting goals and eating right are absolutely crucial components of getting in shape. Too often, we neglect to consider the value of rest, especially when adding a new routine to an already busy schedule. Here are a few ways that getting the right amount of sleep will help you reach your fitness goals.

Sleep helps control hunger.

Sleeping less than six hours a night will make you hungrier. Your body produces less of the hunger-controlling hormone leptin when you are sleep-deprived, leading to increased appetite. To keep cravings at bay, be sure to rest.

Sleep helps recovery.

Sleepy people produce less growth hormone and more cortisol. This makes muscle recovery take longer and increases injury risk. A good night’s sleep helps you build muscle quicker and limits downtime.

Sleep helps shed fat.

A recent study found that sleep-deprived dieters lost half as much fat as well-rested people on the same diet. The way that your body sheds or stores fat is greatly affected by the amount of sleep you get.

Sleep helps you stick to a plan.

It seems obvious, but people who sleep enough are much more likely to actually go to the gym as they planned. Skipped days are less common among people who are getting sleep.  If you get the appropriate amount of sleep, you are much less likely to hit the snooze button and bypass your morning gym plans.

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