I was asked a lot of great questions at my public event in Kooskia September 19.

I got questions about topics like cholesterol, low-carb, how Code Red is different than keto, how the Code Red Lifestyle was born, and how I ended up with the name Code Red.

But one of my favorite questions of the night was, “Cristy, what’s the number one way I could sabotage my weight loss?”

Before I answered, I asked the crowd what they thought I would say.

The lady who asked probably expected me to say something like fear of failure…cheating…emotional eating…or not believing in yourself.

Those can all sabotage weight loss, for sure. But they aren’t the #1 way.

No – as I told this audience – the #1 way to sabotage your weight loss is: Lack of SLEEP.

Almost everyone in the room seem surprised by my answer (except my Coaches and Leaders), including the lady who asked me the question.

I get it. It’s not a very sexy answer.

But it’s the reality. Sleep is THE #1 rule in weight loss. Not Cristy’s #1 rule – THE #1 rule.

If you aren’t getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night, you won’t lose weight, even if you’re doing everything else right.

And because sleep is the #1 rule, not getting enough is the #1 way to sabotage your weight loss.

Emotional eating and mindset struggles can be a problem. But you can overcome those.

Lack of sleep is not something you can “overcome.” You either sleep, or you don’t.

So do what you have to do in order to get your 7 hours.

Put the kids to bed earlier, turn off the phone and TV, don’t drink caffeine late in the day, and take a sleep aid if you have to (I take half a generic Unisom).

And remember, when I say sleep, I’m talking actual shut-eye, not 7 hours in the bedroom with two of those hours spent watching Netflix or checking Facebook.

No sleep = no weight loss. Start making your sleep a priority, so you can get that weight off once and for all.