Insomnia and weight loss goals just don't work out! :(

cassandralepandaa

Hey all!

I've had a great deal of sleep issues for three months now. They started after my grandfathers death. Nightmares, then anxiety towards sleep. Now I can't sleep without waking up during the night for hours at a time, several times a night.

I know a great deal of it is due to stress, but most of that is behind me now. My greatest stress now is the fact that I can't sleep! It's really starting to interfere with my weight loss goals. I haven't shifted *kitten* for over a month now, nd my performance is terrible.

After near passing out whilst driving a few days ago, I asked the doctor to prescribe me a sleeping pill (I think it's called Doxydopime?). I took it Thursday night, and only woke up once. I didn't take it last night, and woke up six times, twice for around an hour each.

I don't want to have to rely on tablets to make me sleep peacefully, but I'm not sure what other choice I have. Meditation has been suggested, but...I'm not even sure where to start, haha! My diet doesn't really contain any sugar (Except for todays little cookies, otherwise, it's like a 90/10 generally.), and I don't drink anything with caffeine. Just water and milk.

I'm so exhausted and angry, and just want to pass out for 9 *kitten* hours! It's affecting my weight because I can't shift anything.

Heeeeeelp!

Orphia

My sympathies on the loss of your grandfather.

I've been prescribed sleeping pills a couple of times, and each time the doctor has said to take them a few nights in a row to get your body into a pattern of good sleep.

Did your doctor say that? It sounds like your body/mind's been trained to keep waking up. You need re-training.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

tedioustrainingap

From my experience with sleep disorders, sleeping tablets usually have to be taken consistently for a week (but no longer), in order to have the best chance of helping you reset your circadian rhythm.

They are rarely used as a long term solution but often don't need to be. They do need to be given a chance to work though .

tedioustrainingap

It looks as though I'm disagreeing with Orphia! It was just a cross post. A few days will no doubt work for some people:)

DaveAkeman

Different sleeping pills work differently. Some of them knock you out all night. Some of them are extremely short-acting and will help you get to sleep, but not necessarily keep you there.

I've had some very scary experiences with OTC sleeping pills, and don't like them at all. (I've found a shot of whiskey usually does the trick for me, too, but I also try to not do that . . . if for no other reason than CALORIES!)

There's some other behavioral things I've read about sleeping - like don't have the television on, and don't use your bedroom for anything other than sleeping. You might try this.

I have noticed that on days that I don't get much sleep I also don't tend to lose much weight. I think the sleep is a much more important factor than it would otherwise seem.

Good luck with this.

Orphia

tedioustrainingap wrote: »

It looks as though I'm disagreeing with Orphia! It was just a cross post. A few days will no doubt work for some people:)

No worries! We agree to "several days but no more than a week".

Cheers!

eDonatti

I think it's worth a shot with these pills. Sleep deprivation is something that can ruin you not only physically but mentally as well. I know you know that - weight loss yes, but it's damaging on so many different levels.

Try them for a while, see how it goes... I'm sure that few good night sleeps will help a lot - and as Orphia said - they may help to reset your body.

RodaRose

cassandralepandaa wrote: »

Hey all!

I've had a great deal of sleep issues for three months now. They started after my grandfathers death. Nightmares, then anxiety towards sleep. Now I can't sleep without waking up during the night for hours at a time, several times a night.

I know a great deal of it is due to stress, but most of that is behind me now. My greatest stress now is the fact that I can't sleep! It's really starting to interfere with my weight loss goals. I haven't shifted *kitten* for over a month now, nd my performance is terrible.

After near passing out whilst driving a few days ago, I asked the doctor to prescribe me a sleeping pill (I think it's called Doxydopime?). I took it Thursday night, and only woke up once. I didn't take it last night, and woke up six times, twice for around an hour each.

I don't want to have to rely on tablets to make me sleep peacefully, but I'm not sure what other choice I have. Meditation has been suggested, but...I'm not even sure where to start, haha! My diet doesn't really contain any sugar (Except for todays little cookies, otherwise, it's like a 90/10 generally.), and I don't drink anything with caffeine. Just water and milk.

I'm so exhausted and angry, and just want to pass out for 9 *kitten* hours! It's affecting my weight because I can't shift anything.

Heeeeeelp!

Doxepin.
That worked for me for sleep.

hekla90

I've had severe insomnia since I was 14. My parents neve allowed me to take medication for it but as soon as I finally didn't helped. I take it maybe a couple times every six months or so now. I had to play around with different types for some time because most sleeping pills give me sleeping pill hangover and I can't quite wake up the next am. And please don't ever drive again that tired. It's no better than driving drunk and you could hurt or kill other people falling asleep behind the wheel. Especially if you know and are aware you arent sleeping enough.

Practice good sleep hygiene and remember not sleeping on its own won't make you gain weight, it's still about intake. You are just more likely to have less self control sleep deprived.

Liftng4Lis

DaveAkeman wrote: »

Different sleeping pills work differently. Some of them knock you out all night. Some of them are extremely short-acting and will help you get to sleep, but not necessarily keep you there.

I've had some very scary experiences with OTC sleeping pills, and don't like them at all. (I've found a shot of whiskey usually does the trick for me, too, but I also try to not do that . . . if for no other reason than CALORIES!)

There's some other behavioral things I've read about sleeping - like don't have the television on, and don't use your bedroom for anything other than sleeping. You might try this.

I have noticed that on days that I don't get much sleep I also don't tend to lose much weight. I think the sleep is a much more important factor than it would otherwise seem.

Good luck with this.

Dude! Kitchen table?

snickerscharlie

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

DaveAkeman wrote: »

Different sleeping pills work differently. Some of them knock you out all night. Some of them are extremely short-acting and will help you get to sleep, but not necessarily keep you there.

I've had some very scary experiences with OTC sleeping pills, and don't like them at all. (I've found a shot of whiskey usually does the trick for me, too, but I also try to not do that . . . if for no other reason than CALORIES!)

There's some other behavioral things I've read about sleeping - like don't have the television on, and don't use your bedroom for anything other than sleeping. You might try this.

I have noticed that on days that I don't get much sleep I also don't tend to lose much weight. I think the sleep is a much more important factor than it would otherwise seem.

Good luck with this.

Dude! Kitchen table?

Laundry room?

Dani9585

I take 5mg of melatonin every night. It's non-addictive.

I just don't sleep without it.

Asher_Ethan

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather.

Are you counting your calories? It was explained to me (and someone please correct me if this is wrong) that when your body lacks sleeps it looks for energy in other places and usually makes you feel like you are hungrier causing you to eat more when you are sleep deprived.
It all comes back to calories in, calories out.

zoeysasha37

I feel for you. I know how frustrating not sleeping can be. Sleeping pills often give me a pill hangover and im not able to get out of bed for the next day. But that is different for everyone, some people have no side affects. So it might be worth a try , even though you dont like the idea of taking them it could help .
These are a few things i do to help me sleep, i make sure to be as active as possible during the day. If i lay around all day, i dont sleep well. So i get as much activities as possible in. Even if its not going to the gym, you could run or even walk in your spare time.
Before bed i take a long hot shower and make sure im wearing the most comfortable pajamas and have the best softest sheets on the bed. I also make sure the room is cool . I turn the heat on very low, i dont sleep well if im hot.
If all else fails, xanax helps calm me enough to fall asleep.

These are just things that have worked for me, but they may not work for you. If you continue to have sleep issues, id go back to your doctor and discuss it with him.

Best of luck !! Sweet dreams: )

FatFreeFrolicking

Try Melatonin. And see a sleep specialist.

Alluminati

snickerscharlie wrote: »

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

DaveAkeman wrote: »

Different sleeping pills work differently. Some of them knock you out all night. Some of them are extremely short-acting and will help you get to sleep, but not necessarily keep you there.

I've had some very scary experiences with OTC sleeping pills, and don't like them at all. (I've found a shot of whiskey usually does the trick for me, too, but I also try to not do that . . . if for no other reason than CALORIES!)

There's some other behavioral things I've read about sleeping - like don't have the television on, and don't use your bedroom for anything other than sleeping. You might try this.

I have noticed that on days that I don't get much sleep I also don't tend to lose much weight. I think the sleep is a much more important factor than it would otherwise seem.

Good luck with this.

Dude! Kitchen table?

Laundry room?

On the sofa?





Wasn't me.

zoeysasha37

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

DaveAkeman wrote: »

Different sleeping pills work differently. Some of them knock you out all night. Some of them are extremely short-acting and will help you get to sleep, but not necessarily keep you there.

I've had some very scary experiences with OTC sleeping pills, and don't like them at all. (I've found a shot of whiskey usually does the trick for me, too, but I also try to not do that . . . if for no other reason than CALORIES!)

There's some other behavioral things I've read about sleeping - like don't have the television on, and don't use your bedroom for anything other than sleeping. You might try this.

I have noticed that on days that I don't get much sleep I also don't tend to lose much weight. I think the sleep is a much more important factor than it would otherwise seem.

Good luck with this.

Dude! Kitchen table?

Btw. I prefer the shower. Lol

SLLRunner

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

DaveAkeman wrote: »

Different sleeping pills work differently. Some of them knock you out all night. Some of them are extremely short-acting and will help you get to sleep, but not necessarily keep you there.

I've had some very scary experiences with OTC sleeping pills, and don't like them at all. (I've found a shot of whiskey usually does the trick for me, too, but I also try to not do that . . . if for no other reason than CALORIES!)

There's some other behavioral things I've read about sleeping - like don't have the television on, and don't use your bedroom for anything other than sleeping. You might try this.

I have noticed that on days that I don't get much sleep I also don't tend to lose much weight. I think the sleep is a much more important factor than it would otherwise seem.

Good luck with this.

Dude! Kitchen table?

What I was thinking too.

SLLRunner

Asher_Ethan wrote: »

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather.

Are you counting your calories? It was explained to me (and someone please correct me if this is wrong) that when your body lacks sleeps it looks for energy in other places and usually makes you feel like you are hungrier causing you to eat more when you are sleep deprived.
It all comes back to calories in, calories out.

When I'm sleep deprived, I am indeed hungrier, so this makes perfect sense as to why lack of sleep can affect weight management.

kshama2001

I used to take 1 mg of sublingual melatonin regularly but am not needing it these days. Sublingual worked better for me than not.

In general, I recommend sleep hygiene but since your issue is related to your grandfather's death, bad sleep after that, and fear of sleeping badly, I suggest you do focus on the stress angle.

I have some ten minute guided meditations I can send you if you message me your email address.

Meditation is difficult for me if I haven't done yoga first. (Quieting the mind in preparation for meditation is, after all, the original purpose of yoga.)

Rodney Yee's AM stretch is great for those new to yoga or wanting gentle stretching and relaxation. It's only 20 minutes long so no excuses

The PM series is ok too, and more challenging, but I like Yee's voice better. I used to do it with the remote in hand so I could pause and hold the poses longer.

Good luck!

Sued0nim

Take the sleeping pills

Download a podcast on mindfulness meditation ...a bodyscan one if you can ...I used to have the most meditatively relaxed right side of my body but my left side...poor leg ...I was always asleep before I got to that side :bigsmile: