Weight loss affecting my sleep?

Domicinator

I've lost 52 lbs. now and have noticed that it's affecting my sleep. I'm not sure if I think it's a positive or negative thing. There are a few key factors here, and I'm just wondering if anyone else who's lost a lot of weight has had the same experience:

1. I work from home full time, so I usually work out before work or during my lunch break. Almost never after dinner or at night.

2. I pretty much cut off all caffeine consumption at lunch time. I might have a Diet Coke in the afternoon here and there, but not often, and never more than one. And my rule for coffee is that once I've had lunch, no more coffee. Also, I have always been known to not be affected too much by caffeine as far as sleep goes. I could drink a cup of coffee before bed and still fall right to sleep.

3. I had upped my water intake, which was causing me to get up and pee in the middle of the night at least once every 2 hours. I have now cut my water intake way back. I obviously do not need that much water. Getting up that often during the night is not worth it.

4. I don't think I'm "over training". My daily cardio workouts are not that intense. 30-40 minutes of moderate cycling or elliptical every day. Sometimes I even just take a 30 minute walk. I work up a sweat and get my heart pumping enough to burn some calories, but it's nothing crazy.

So even after cutting down on the water a bit, I'm still getting up multiple times a night for no reason. Usually I fall right back asleep, but sometimes I don't. Today I was up at 4:45 am and couldn't fall back asleep, so I just got up and started my day.

This is just foreign territory for me. I've slept through earthquakes before. (not exaggerating--our dishes and cabinets were rattling and the bed was shaking and I slept through it) I am not used to this at all. And the kicker is that I'm not tired. When I get these short nights of sleep, I do not feel in any way tired or groggy or foggy headed the next day. I feel fine.

Is it just that my body has become more efficient? Is it just that I'm getting older? Anyone ever experience this?

PS: Just a quick note--I've seen a lot of info online about obesity causing loss of sleep. I've not seen much about losing sleep because of weight loss.

queenliz99

I think it's because you are getting older, try to cut back a little more on the caffeine and drink less water closer to bed time.

Congrats on your amazing weight loss!!

PinkPixiexox

This may not even be related to your diet plan whatsoever. It sounds like you are doing every thing possibly to get the sleep you need, even cutting your caffeine after a certain time. The only thing I can really suggest is to try having evening work-out's (I don't mean late night but say 8PM for example). Maybe this will naturally tire you out? Perhaps give this a try and see if anything changes?

If not and it's becoming a problem for you, maybe speak to a doctor.

Domicinator

queenliz99 wrote: »

I think it's because you are getting older, try to cut back a little more on the caffeine and drink less water closer to bed time.

Congrats on your amazing weight loss!!

Thanks!

I've actually cut way back on both. The old me used to guzzle diet coke and coffee all day long. These days it's about 4 cups of coffee spread out throughout the morning, and most days I drink NO soda. I sometimes have a Diet Coke in the afternoon if the mood strikes. I've actually been trying to drink nothing after like 7 pm.

I think you're right though, in general. Approaching 40 and massive changes to my body are probably the main culprits.

Domicinator

PinkPixiexox wrote: »

This may not even be related to your diet plan whatsoever. It sounds like you are doing every thing possibly to get the sleep you need, even cutting your caffeine after a certain time. The only thing I can really suggest is to try having evening work-out's (I don't mean late night but say 8PM for example). Maybe this will naturally tire you out? Perhaps give this a try and see if anything changes?

If not and it's becoming a problem for you, maybe speak to a doctor.

Definitely some food for thought. The weird thing is that it's NOT a problem. I feel totally fine during the day--not tired at all. I think maybe I'm just needing less sleep than I did before. I don't know if it's the changes to my body, me getting older, or maybe just a combo of both.