Thoughts on sleep?

T

Theresa

0
Okay - Trainer Lynn suggested way more sleep than is possible for me to get a night in order to tone my abs. I'm wondering if you all (including Trainer Lynn:) ) think this is a make or break issue with my progress? I usually go to bed at 12m (sometimes by 11 if I am exhausted) and am up at 5:30/5:45am every weekday morning except Fridays. I completely understand the concept behind needing the rest, it's just an issue of reality for me....at least for a few more years until my kids are in elementary school. I have two kids and my own business, as soon as the kids go to bed, I workout then do reports, etc. until I go to bed myself.

Would appreciate your thoughts:)

Thanks
Theresa:confused:
 
The whole you need 8 hours of sleep is a crock. Everyone's sleep cycle is different. Personally, I find it impossible to get more than 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. it has nothing to do with my schedule as I work from home and can structure my day any way I want. I don't have young children. I just cannot sleep more than 5 1/2 to 6 hours. if I try to stay in bed for that extra couple hours, I feel sluggish all morning.

So listen to your body, it will tell you what it needs better than anyone else.
 
Try taking a supplement called ZMA, it will help you get to sleep faster, help your gains, and you won't be drowsy in the morning.
 
Theresa, lol you crack me up :D My motto is always... do what you can, when you can. I know you're busy. My point was that rest is important and you should feel energized when you wake up.

You'll get through it all fine. Rest is not THE most important thing in working the abs. Nutrition and a full body strength routine are more important. Then cardio and hydration. Rest is just important for your muscles to repair properly after being worked.

Do what you can... when you can :)
 
THANKS!! I feel a lot better about this....you all have been so helpful! Thanks for the support and for the resources:)
 
Larrabee said:
Try taking a supplement called ZMA, it will help you get to sleep faster, help your gains, and you won't be drowsy in the morning.
Click to expand...

Theresa, if you can, I suggest you try this supplement. It doesn't actually help you get to sleep faster, but once you are asleep, it puts you into a deeper sleep. It is basically two pills (for women) consisting of zinc and magnesium to improve your quality of sleep. It isn't a sleep aid and it certainly won't leave you dependant, it is just the correct timing and dosage of two important minerals.

It's around $8 for a month and a half's supply. You should be able to get it at most supplement stores (GNC doesn't have it).
 
I will look into it, thanks for the tip - I'm not a big fan of anything like that (I don't even take Tylenol for my headaches) - but if it's all natural, I may consider it. I'm definitely not a deep sleeper, although I was an incredibly deep sleeper before I even had children (most moms know how this phenomenon works) - I can hear them cough or roll over the wrong way now. Although there's something to be said for that parenting instinct - deeper sleep is not something I've had in four years!!! Thanks guys.
 
another option would be melatonin. its the chemical that helps us sleep. 3g tablet 30 mins before bedtime. non habit forming,but it should not be used all the time.

also, the deeper sleep with ZMA and melatoin will result in more vivid dreams that you'll be more likely to remember. not exactly a bad thing, but it IS common.
 
i would focus on quality of sleep over quantity...as mentioned above, 6hrs can be enough if it's quality sleep and not interupted...personally i function best on about 7hrs...on some early starts i can have 4 - 5 and get through the day and some times i struggle all day if sleep was ordinary...the best thing to do is to try and go to sleep at the same time and get up at the same time so the body finds a rythum...having a sleep in day can break up this rythum and gets you out of whack so stick to it as best you can
 
it's ironic that you say that Swans05...the night I wrote that my three year old was up at 3am sick as a dog, so it was certainly not a night of quality sleep and whatever sleep I got was clearly interrupted:) Fortunately, he is better now and last night was MUCH better sleep for us all:)

Thanks for all the input!
 
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