Take The Sleep Number® Sleep-In Challenge And You Could Win A Free Select Comfort Bed

Are you getting enough sleep? If not, take this challenge!

I don't know about you, but sometimes I go to bed with every intention of getting a good night's sleep in an effort to get in about 7-8 hours of quality rest and the reality is I can sometimes only squeeze in about 4-5 hours of actual restful sleep. Most of the time I am tossing and turning either because it's too hot, I have to get up to go to the bathroom, my mind starts racing, you name it. I'm sure you can relate. Been there, done that!

In fact, this morning was a perfect example of what can happen. I went to bed around 11:15pm last night and got to sleep fairly quickly I'd say. Maybe by 11:30pm, I was out like a light. But then around 4:30am, I had to get up to go use the restroom and when I got back into bed I couldn't get back to sleep. My abs and shoulders were still sore from my workout with my trainer on Friday, I was thirsty, my mind started thinking about what I was gonna do today, and for the next four hours I just drifted in and out of sleep as all of this swirled around my restless body. UGH!!!

Needless to say, now that it's approaching bedtime tonight, I'm extremely tired and I've been that way for most of the day since coming home from church. When you don't get adequate sleep, it can wreak havoc on your body, including your weight loss efforts. EEEK! The science behind making sure you sleep and sleep well is solid--you need sleep if you want to live the healthy lifestyle you desire. That's why I'm so pleased to tell you about a special event happening now through August 1, 2008.

It's call The Sleep Number® Sleep-In Challenge from the good people at Select Comfort. You may have heard about the Sleep Number® bed on the radio or television and it's arguably the most individualized bed you can possibly own with your own air chamber to make it as soft or as firm as you'd like it on your side of the bed while your bedmate can set their own Sleep Number to the desired level of firmness they would like. Christine and I have tried these out in their store and we are light years apart with our number (she likes her VERY firm and I like mine VERY soft!).

By participating in this special challenge, you will have a chance to be the grand prize winner of a queen-sized Sleep Number® 3000 bed set with the Firmness Control™ system valued at nearly $1,200! WOO HOO! There will also be a first place prize of a pair of Intralux® Comfort Foam Contour Pillows valued at $110. It's a pretty nifty incentive to get you to focus in on your sleep and getting in the habit of getting more of it for the sake of your health. And all you have to do it sign up for the challenge.

Here's how the challenge works: Americans are exhausting themselves to declining health by cutting back on getting adequate sleep. So the challenge is to commit to getting just ONE MORE HOUR OF SLEEP EACH DAY so you can be better rested to take on the day and be healthy in the living world. That's it! We all pay attention to our diet and exercise routine and meticulously plan our days and vacations. So why not do the same with our sleep? You should regularly budget your sleep time like you would any other scheduled appointment or meeting and stick to it! Just so you know, I'm talking to ME as much as I am you right now. I needed this challenge and I am committing myself to getting that extra hour of sleep somewhere somehow. :)

The long-term health impact of adding just one extra hour of sleep per day is phenomenal! It can literally extend your life by reducing such health ailments as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, respiratory disorders and high blood pressure, among other conditions. The evidence is mounting just as it is for livin' la vida low-carb, so we shouldn't ignore it any longer. Get that sleep you desperately need so your body can be as healthy as it can be!

Let me know if you are participating in The Sleep Number® Sleep-In Challenge and share your thoughts about how it's going in the comments section below. GOOD LUCK to everyone who enters for a chance to win that GREAT bed. Sweet dreams, baby! ;)