Sleep or Cardio?

Deena_Bean

I'm going to post this question in my favorite forums so I can see what people think.

Do you think it's more important to have enough sleep at night, or to get a workout in. Last week I was up M-F at 5:30a to work out. M-W-F is lifting, T-TH for cardio (bike/run). This week I've skipped my T-TH cardio because I'm not getting enough sleep. On the lifting days when I get up, I'm exhausted the whole day. Yes I know the answer is likely to go to bed earlier, but it just doesn't always work out that way. Working full time and having kids, I'm scrambling in my whopping 4 evening hours to get dinner, haul them to camps/practices, keep up with laundry and house hold things, run to the store, etc. Sometimes it's 10:30-11 before I even lay down. I generally pass out pretty quickly when I finally lay down, but on those longer nights I'm not getting enough sleep for me. I have found that 7-8 hours is my sweet zone. Under 7 and I'm beat. So what's more important? On the nights that I can't get to bed, should I sleep the extra hour on the other end, or forgo it and work out? Thoughts?

kirkor

Sleep over cardio, definitely. You can make up for cardio by eating less, you can't make up for poor sleep.

Kimo159

I always choose sleep>workout. When I'm tired I tend to make poor food choices and eat more calories than when I'm well rested.

KnitOrMiss

Sleep, hands down. Just 3-4 days of neglected sleep trigger insulin resistance. So in this case, sleep, or resistance is futile...

kennygang

I also agree sleep is def more important since there is no way to make up sleep lost but you can modify your diet to adjust to your exercise.

KenSmith108

or

DorkothyParker

This week has been sleep. (The cold rainy weather was definitely part of that decision.)

I will squeeze in a 30 minute workout on my hour lunch *sometimes*. Lately I've been taking 30 minute lunches to squeeze in some extra work time. It's about being flexible.

Deena_Bean

Thanks for the reassurance, everyone. I feel 1000% better when I choose the sleep, but the guilt of skipping the workouts nags me. Sleep wins. I love sleep

noclady1995

I feel like I could've written this post! Lol. Same thing...I've realized that sleep is more important. On Monday morning I had only had 5 hrs sleep but motivated myself to get out of bed to do some circuit training at 5am. Bad move. I literally could not keep my eyes open at work and ended up falling asleep at 6 pm and hubby had to pick up ALL of the slack.

RowdysLady

With the weather so hot here I've stopped taking an evening walk. I keep telling myself I'll get up just before the sun and walk then....HA! I've not done it once yet. And I was SO proud of myself for my 5 mile walks each day. I just can't get out of bed early to do it. I need the weather in the evenings to cooperate with me.

Shells918

I chose sleep today. I was so tired I could barely breathe! Exercise will be there tomorrow.

elize7

I think sleep as well. Better for me to watch that my calorie deficit is sufficient. That way I lose even if I don't work out at all.

karebear5891

Remember, housework is a form of cardio. You're working and moving and lifting stuff. Sleep > cardio,for sure, b/c you're getting cardio in some shape or form just by doing what you're doing. I also thinking lifting >cardio. Better to build up a little bit of muscle with your time than go on an elliptical. Maybe on the weekends, try to incorporate some long walks with the kids (if they're old enough and to what extent they can tolerate, of course)

RowdysLady

Yay! 3 loads of laundry already...Cardio... Check! Heck, I couldn't sleep last night and when Rowdy left for work at 0400 I was awake...did I go walk? Sigh....

slimzandra

Sleep. If I'm overtired, I'm just going through the motions and it's going to be a waste of time anyway. If I'm well rested, I will take the stairs at work and get up and down with my activities with more pep, thus probably getting in more cardio overall for the day just by doing the dailies with more zip.

Cheesy567

Sleep over almost everything.

Have you tried scheduling your day by the hour, and writing in your exercise? (And sleep time, and absolute obligations like work hours and quality time with kids and family). It's an interesting exercise in priorities, and helps me see what can fall by the wayside or wait for another day/ time. You might see what you're able to delegate (if your kids are old enough to attend camps and practices, they're old enough to manage the chores that allow you the time to haul them there). You might find other workarounds like carpools, batch meal prep with friends/ neighbors, etc.

You can make your exercise, sleep, WOE, and general health a priority. It's easier if it's done in a mindful and intentional way. You shouldn't be on the back-burner, an afterthought after 'obligations' to kids, spouse, everyone else on the planet. They're not looking out for you-- you have to do that for yourself.

mandycat223

Sleep. You don't want to be like the poor lady I saw at my gym years ago. She fell asleep learning back in a recumbent bike, I'm sure just to "rest her eyes for a minute." I thought only cats could fall asleep in a position like that.

anglyn1

I definitely agree with sleep over cardio. Do you have anywhere on the weekends you could squeeze in the cardio workouts? Totally not necessary to make them up, just curious. I usually take rest days during the work week and try to workout both weekend days since it's a little easier to squeeze in for me!