For those losing...how to fall/stay asleep? Pee every few hours during night, also wired feeling.
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I only had your issues when I first started out and was basically having a withdrawal from food. That disappeared in about 2 weeks. As for the peeing all night: If I eat too much fruit in the evening, I get that. But besides that, I've had it happen with mild anxiety. I'm not panicked or anything, just maybe stressed at work and not really relaxing or in a full sleep. Honest to god, when that happens I'm up every hour peeing and it's like I have a full bladder. As soon as I get up and start moving around it stops. But that only happens a few times a year.
In reading this whole thread, it really doesn't seem like you are doing anything wrong. You do have a pretty significant exercise routine and, for some people, that just creates a lot of hunger. I always think it's counterintuitive to say to cut back on the exercise, but I think I might do that if I were you. Just to see if it helps. Also exercise, depending on the time of day, can be very stimulating and cause you to lose sleep. Not everyone, but some people.
After trying that out, if that doesn't work, I would say that your hunger cues (hormonal) are out of whack. To strong of a hunger message going to the brain. It could be that a slight/baby does of an anti-depressant could calm it.2 -
Appreciate that you have experienced a form of this. May try consulting my doctor again. I know she wanted to refer me to another endo who specializes in atypical hormone issues.I only had your issues when I first started out and was basically having a withdrawal from food. That disappeared in about 2 weeks. As for the peeing all night: If I eat too much fruit in the evening, I get that. But besides that, I've had it happen with mild anxiety. I'm not panicked or anything, just maybe stressed at work and not really relaxing or in a full sleep. Honest to god, when that happens I'm up every hour peeing and it's like I have a full bladder. As soon as I get up and start moving around it stops. But that only happens a few times a year.
In reading this whole thread, it really doesn't seem like you are doing anything wrong. You do have a pretty significant exercise routine and, for some people, that just creates a lot of hunger. I always think it's counterintuitive to say to cut back on the exercise, but I think I might do that if I were you. Just to see if it helps. Also exercise, depending on the time of day, can be very stimulating and cause you to lose sleep. Not everyone, but some people.
After trying that out, if that doesn't work, I would say that your hunger cues (hormonal) are out of whack. To strong of a hunger message going to the brain. It could be that a slight/baby does of an anti-depressant could calm it.
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Eating earlier tends to just make me hungrier throughout the day and I find coffee in the morning which i need blunts my appetite anyway. It's more around 12-4 I struggle and if I break the fast at lunch which often happens when I have work meetings and it would be weird to not eat, I keep carbs extremely low. Later I'll have something so I at least have some complex carbs...otherwise i feel terrible. tried keto and did not work for me and made insomnia way worse.
As far as the calorie burn goes, I work very hard to get it that high. My fitbit says I should be eating 2000-2300 based on my workouts + daily activity. I have an active job somewhat and am on my feet a bit, as well as cardio for an hour. at my weight, it does give me those burns. Especially because the cardio I do I consider to be moderate-virgorous depending on the day.Your estimated calorie burn looks extremely high unless you have a job where you are walking around for 12 hours per day.
You said you practice intermittent fasting, well maybe that pattern doesn't work for you. You might want to try spacing your calories different. I'm more likely to experience extreme hunger after breaking a fast while doing IF rather than eating a protein rich breakfast even if it's just a protein shake.0 -
what is this cortisol manager called?judithraye wrote: »Not to mention now finally losing weight
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Fitbit can over-estimate. Since you're not losing, you're not in a deficit.
Calculate your TDEE on a site like Scooby and subtract 500 calories from that per day. Try for a few weeks and adjust as needed. Make sure your logging is accurate--use a food scale for ALL solids and mesuring cups for all liquids. Make sure the entires in whatever database you're using are accurate.
As for your sleep issues, they may be emotional and not physical. But they could relate to caffeine intake or sleep apnea. Maybe go back to the doctor and to a licensed therapist.0 -
Are you taking hot showers just before bed? That can throw off the body's sleep signals.0
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Thanks. I believe the fitbit is accurate. I am just unable to stick to the calories to be in a deficit.
I agree the sleep issues could be emotional too although I am not overly stressed and have had this issue ever since i started dieting. i even lost weight just not having any food in the house so i couldn't eat if id wake up t night. i used to make decaf coffee to help combat the hunger and numb my stomach so i could sleep a little while longer. it wasn't sustainable and i obviously am not doing any better now, 40 lbs. heavier dealing with the same issues.
I've tried therapy, dietitians, endocrinologists, no answers yet. i did just get my period back after not having it for 5 years...it stopped when i was a low body fat and runner and then never got it back despite gaining weight and then i was told it must be PCOS despite not having cysts....except now i am obese and actually got a period. really frustrating.Fitbit can over-estimate. Since you're not losing, you're not in a deficit.
Calculate your TDEE on a site like Scooby and subtract 500 calories from that per day. Try for a few weeks and adjust as needed. Make sure your logging is accurate--use a food scale for ALL solids and mesuring cups for all liquids. Make sure the entires in whatever database you're using are accurate.
As for your sleep issues, they may be emotional and not physical. But they could relate to caffeine intake or sleep apnea. Maybe go back to the doctor and to a licensed therapist.0 -
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What would happen if you tried eating a maintenance for two or three weeks?1
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You could try adjusting your meal times. Maybe try "skipping" breakfast. Have lunch, dinner, and a late night meal right before bed. Shift everything about 3-4 hours later. That way you're not hungry while you sleep. You may feel fine pushing through in the morning while you're at work.
It's what works for me.1 -
I find that meditation when I wake up in the middle of the night to work well and I have a fan blowing for white noise. If meditation practiced often, you will zonk out faster. Stressful job, stressful homelife had me up at night often. I also have reduced my sugar intake and that seems to help me out in lots of areas, including sleeping better and better looking skin on my face. Seems to me too, you're exercising a lot each day. Is that to be fit or to eat more calories, or both?1
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charlenekapf wrote: »I am not asking about a particular diet or food. I am asking more about a sleep problem. If you have questions about the foods I eat or calories, you can ask me and I will tell you...this forum seems to be a lot more active. however the database is a lot slower and less put together than live strong, that's all.
a) that's not how things work here.
b) you still haven't defined your problem, explained what you're looking for, or outlined anything you've done to fix the issue to this point.
c) if your question has nothing to do with your diet, why did you bring it up?
But I'll give it a shot:
I think you're asking how you can not pee so much during the night, and for some reason you're equating weight loss with peeing. They are unrelated.
1) Stop all eating or drinking for 2 hours before bed.
2) Take a metatonin. Stop with the Unisom.
3) If you're not lifting or exerting yourself in some way, start.
As far as binging ruining your calorie counts, stop binging. There's no other solution, and no one can do it for you. Just stop.
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Hi Charlene,
In the past, when I have tried to maintain 10-1200 calories a day, I found I had trouble sleeping and would wake up often and I was always hungry. I was also quite jittery. That was the worst! After 2 weeks like that, I was beginning to feel so tired and run down, too. Now I try to get between 15-1600 and I'm still losing...but I don't have that "starving, even after eating a meal" feeling.2 -
Could you split your calories into two meals? One when you break your fast and another maybe an hour before bedtime? A sleep aid like Zquil, Benadryl, or an anti anxiety from your doctor may help, too.0
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My problem is I cannot sleep through the night without waking up wired and hungry. I also find when dieting I get up more and have to pee more frequently. My question has to do with losing weight and sleep hence in the general weight loss section.
I do lift if you read my reply to someone else's question about my exercise routine. I also do at least an hour of cardio with my heart rate 145-170 the entire time.
It seems possible that a lot of people are able to lose weight without being a chronic insomniac (which also increases my appetite a ton) and I have never been able to achieve that in all my years even at my leanest weight. I have had horrible sleep since this all started and am hoping to find a few other people who have experienced this and found some kind of solution or things to help.xmichaelyx wrote: »charlenekapf wrote: »I am not asking about a particular diet or food. I am asking more about a sleep problem. If you have questions about the foods I eat or calories, you can ask me and I will tell you...this forum seems to be a lot more active. however the database is a lot slower and less put together than live strong, that's all.
a) that's not how things work here.
b) you still haven't defined your problem, explained what you're looking for, or outlined anything you've done to fix the issue to this point.
c) if your question has nothing to do with your diet, why did you bring it up?
But I'll give it a shot:
I think you're asking how you can not pee so much during the night, and for some reason you're equating weight loss with peeing. They are unrelated.
1) Stop all eating or drinking for 2 hours before bed.
2) Take a metatonin. Stop with the Unisom.
3) If you're not lifting or exerting yourself in some way, start.
As far as binging ruining your calorie counts, stop binging. There's no other solution, and no one can do it for you. Just stop.1 -
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You could try adjusting your meal times. Maybe try "skipping" breakfast. Have lunch, dinner, and a late night meal right before bed. Shift everything about 3-4 hours later. That way you're not hungry while you sleep. You may feel fine pushing through in the morning while you're at work.
It's what works for me.
In my previous replies to others and main post, I do intermittent fasting, trying to postpone eating until as long as possible. Working out thankfully helps to blunt appetite and prolong fasting but once i break it, I have a huge appetite. I definitely prefer IF to not IF as my overall calories are lower and I always have preferred to eat my main meal later in the day, closer to bed.0 -
mysteps2beauty wrote: »I find that meditation when I wake up in the middle of the night to work well and I have a fan blowing for white noise. If meditation practiced often, you will zonk out faster. Stressful job, stressful homelife had me up at night often. I also have reduced my sugar intake and that seems to help me out in lots of areas, including sleeping better and better looking skin on my face. Seems to me too, you're exercising a lot each day. Is that to be fit or to eat more calories, or both?
Thank you for this. Yes, I use a fan too. My sugar intake is pretty low. It mainly comes from sweet potatoes...I use stevia only for sweetener and do not consume fruit most of the time. Last night I also had some pumpkin purree so there is some natural sugar in there as well. Nut butters seem to be the only thing that satiates me...olive oil doesn't really do much for me so I don't use it. I agree though less sugar is helpful. Maybe cutting the oats and potatoes out again...I've done that before and my recovery and workouts suck but bulk eating veggies instead of starches may help...although i notice when i do this i just eat mass amounts of broccoli, brussels sprouts, etc. to feel satiated. it's hard not eating even complex carbs.
I workout to burn more calories so I can eat more than 1500. I feel like if I plan really well and take a sleep aid that actually worked, I could probably eat 1700-1800 a day for awhile and i bet I would lose. The hardest thing is not sleeping, waking up every hour with hunger pangs or just wired and unable to fall back asleep. my fitbit shows when i was losing weight a year ago i was sleeping 2-3 hrs a night with another 1-2 hours after an hour of being awake tossing and turning. it was horrible. i liked that i was losing but at the same time, I felt out of it all day long and obviously wasn't sustainable.0 -
It sounds like you have tried every thing..
Its time to see your doctor after reading all the posts and replies. Its sounds like a possible hormonal imbalance/issue or deficiency. I might not stop with my primary doctor, I would get my female doctor involved as well.
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Thanks. I've had bloodwork don't and some abnormalities with hormones but no conclusive diagnosis explaining things. My PCP is working on a referral to an endocrinologist at a university involved in research with this but was hoping others on here have gone through this..It sounds like you have tried every thing..
Its time to see your doctor after reading all the posts and replies. Its sounds like a possible hormonal imbalance/issue or deficiency. I might not stop with my primary doctor, I would get my female doctor involved as well.0 -
Have you ever thought that you might have anxiety? You seem to be worrying a lot about your diet, sleep and overall health so maybe this is purely a psychological thing. I say this because I had really bad insomnia when I had anxiety.
When I mentioned sleep hygiene I didn't just mean turning the lights off. It means turning your electronics off an hour and a half before sleeping. Going to be at the same time each night, waking up at the same time. Exercise in the morning. Warm baths before bed and like someone else mentioned, meditation. Reading is an option, some say you shouldn't do it in bed though but before. Could even try rearranging your bedroom..
Does your mind race at night?
Edit: Just to add you keep bringing this back to food, the person you just responded to the majority of their post was about meditation and stressors.. You only picked up on the fan and didn't address anything else when they were very good sleep aid suggestions and were trying to help identify your stressors. I think it may be worth thinking about your psychological health rather than if a nut butter is the cause of you waking up in the night.4 -
Right now I am also having trouble sleeping due to being pregnant. I get such intense itching at night that I can't sleep. My doctor reccomended melatonin. I was skeptical because I've tried it before and it didn't work. This time I bought the "quick dissolve". I started at 1mg and went up from there. They may 1mg, 3mg, 5mg and 10mg tablets but I reccomend starting at 1 because that might work for you. When I take it-best 8hours of sleep I will get:0
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Try having a small bowl of cottage cheese mixed with casein before bed. I use optimum nutrition choc/peanut butter casein. Both are slow release protein, which is what you need to help you stay full.0
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The only anxiety I have is over not sleeping so sure I guess it is anxiety. However, it's not really falling asleep that has me anxious. I eventually can fall asleep even if hungry but staying asleep is my problem. It's usually the waking up wired that is the most challenging. I appreciate your input a lot. No, my mind does not race but I definitely feel like it would be "nice" to have some kind of pill to take that makes me wind down and that actually keeps me asleep. I've taken the unisom as I mentioned which doesn't keep me asleep.
I have tried turning electronics off before but again, waking up every hour or so after I've fallen asleep hasn't changed with or without electronics.
I always exercise early morning usually 6:30-8.
Meditating doesn't do much for me although I stretch at night which helps muscle soreness the next day. I just moved so rearranging my bedroom happened automatically. I've moved several times in my life since beginning to have insomnia.
I actually was not bringing it back to food as far as what I believe the cause of this is. I responded to her comment regarding sugars because I notice the adverse effects of it. However, regardless of macronutrient ratio, I still wakeup...unless my overall calories are higher than they have to be to lose weight.
I never said nut butters cause me to wakeup at night. I don't know where you got that.
Anyway, I wish I had a diagnosed psychological issue that could be treated with a medication so this would get better...LOL I would be the first to jump to taking any kind of pill to cure this.
I actually had a therapist when this all started and have consulted Drs., OBGYN, Psychiatrists and they all believe it is a hormonal issue and have referred me around...staying asleep has not resulted from therapy and my worry about sleeping through the night did not start until this problem began happening and I would wake up starving, sometimes eat, and wakeup angry the next day that I did. So now, I just don't keep anything in the house I could eat in the middle of the night but still wakeup wired. It's been about 7 years of this and the only time I don't wakeup is when I eat too many calories and ruin any deficit I had.MagicalGiraffe wrote: »Have you ever thought that you might have anxiety? You seem to be worrying a lot about your diet, sleep and overall health so maybe this is purely a psychological thing. I say this because I had really bad insomnia when I had anxiety.
When I mentioned sleep hygiene I didn't just mean turning the lights off. It means turning your electronics off an hour and a half before sleeping. Going to be at the same time each night, waking up at the same time. Exercise in the morning. Warm baths before bed and like someone else mentioned, meditation. Reading is an option, some say you shouldn't do it in bed though but before. Could even try rearranging your bedroom..
Does your mind race at night?
Edit: Just to add you keep bringing this back to food, the person you just responded to the majority of their post was about meditation and stressors.. You only picked up on the fan and didn't address anything else when they were very good sleep aid suggestions and were trying to help identify your stressors. I think it may be worth thinking about your psychological health rather than if a nut butter is the cause of you waking up in the night.0 -
Christine_72 wrote: »Try having a small bowl of cottage cheese mixed with casein before bed. I use optimum nutrition choc/peanut butter casein. Both are slow release protein, which is what you need to help you stay full.
I've never tried caesin but have heard people mention it....is it really that effective? i know whey is quick digesting and definitely not filing for me. again, not trying to tie the issue itself to food, but anything to keep me asleep whether my body is hungry or my brain just wants to wakeup after an hour or two every few hours....I'm willing to try.0 -
Right now I am also having trouble sleeping due to being pregnant. I get such intense itching at night that I can't sleep. My doctor reccomended melatonin. I was skeptical because I've tried it before and it didn't work. This time I bought the "quick dissolve". I started at 1mg and went up from there. They may 1mg, 3mg, 5mg and 10mg tablets but I reccomend starting at 1 because that might work for you. When I take it-best 8hours of sleep I will get:
interesting. i was told not to take it before due to hypothyroidism but at this point, I'm pretty desperate0 -
charlenekapf wrote: »Christine_72 wrote: »Try having a small bowl of cottage cheese mixed with casein before bed. I use optimum nutrition choc/peanut butter casein. Both are slow release protein, which is what you need to help you stay full.
I've never tried caesin but have heard people mention it....is it really that effective? i know whey is quick digesting and definitely not filing for me. again, not trying to tie the issue itself to food, but anything to keep me asleep whether my body is hungry or my brain just wants to wakeup after an hour or two every few hours....I'm willing to try.
It's effective for me, casein fills me up longer than regular whey protein. Casein is recommended to be taken before bed. There's loads of articles on Google.0 -
OP have you been referred to a sleep specialist yet or is this something you can discuss with your doctor?
The sleep study is where you participate in your own supervised sleep study where they monitor you while you sleep over night . First they first diagnose you and then the next visit to help regulate sleep for you..
Might you talk to your pharmacist in the mean time and tell them what you are having, they can also help point you to OTC or perhaps something they might can provide that is given from behind the counter. Just a thought..
I have taken Alteril OTC. it is melatonin/l-tryptophan/glycine. You mentioned hyperthyroidism, but this has worked for me taking only 1 of the 2 recommended doses. Just know that there is a point when this sleep issue shows its ugly face in the middle of the night... that if you are still remotely sleepy or drowsy and can stay that way for a short period of time to work with your mind and body to not allow yourself to completely wake up, you might can find another hour or two in your sleep. Like my husband says, stop fighting it and try to go back to sleep.. I usually will officially get out of bed after 25-30 minutes where I cannot completely go back to sleep.
If I eat in the middle of the night, I usually can go back to sleep after an hour. Not every time, sometimes I am too mad about being woken up to eat. if that makes any sense.
I contribute mine to hormonal issues with my age.. I am used to it now and I get sleep when I can, even a nap in the day time is helpful. Sometimes I am fully asleep in my chair watching TV at 7:30 or 8:00 and I just sleep.. my husband is used to me like this by now. Get the sleep when you can.
I do a have an amazing prescription medication I can take, I just like to get as much of my own natural sleep as possible.. but this stuff my doc works and works well.. Hopefully you can get this worked out. I know its miserable not sleeping.. It affects everything.. I completely get this.
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First please try to plan some calories for a snack before bed. Don't go to be hungry. It isn't helpful as you know.
Also have you tried, or considered trying melatonin? I have found that it helps me to get better rest at night. I still get up once o twice to use the bathroom but I have always done that so it barely interrupts me anymore.1 -
thank you. I really appreciate the advice. I may end up doing a sleep study as it has been so long. Also, on the hormonal note, my estrogen was very low until the past month..I literally had not menstruated in 5 years and then randomly got a period last month so I think part of this is hormonal imbalance and i was in almost a menopause from having such low estrogen/progesterone...dealt with hot flashes, dry skin/hair. Not sure now that I just had that period if things are regulating on their own for some reason. I've gotten lots of advice from everyone and appreciate the referrals to sleep specialists, melatonin, etc. Roxiedawn, what was the prescription from the doctor you got? I may mention it at my next visit to see if doc recommends it?OP have you been referred to a sleep specialist yet or is this something you can discuss with your doctor?
The sleep study is where you participate in your own supervised sleep study where they monitor you while you sleep over night . First they first diagnose you and then the next visit to help regulate sleep for you..
Might you talk to your pharmacist in the mean time and tell them what you are having, they can also help point you to OTC or perhaps something they might can provide that is given from behind the counter. Just a thought..
I have taken Alteril OTC. it is melatonin/l-tryptophan/glycine. You mentioned hyperthyroidism, but this has worked for me taking only 1 of the 2 recommended doses. Just know that there is a point when this sleep issue shows its ugly face in the middle of the night... that if you are still remotely sleepy or drowsy and can stay that way for a short period of time to work with your mind and body to not allow yourself to completely wake up, you might can find another hour or two in your sleep. Like my husband says, stop fighting it and try to go back to sleep.. I usually will officially get out of bed after 25-30 minutes where I cannot completely go back to sleep.
If I eat in the middle of the night, I usually can go back to sleep after an hour. Not every time, sometimes I am too mad about being woken up to eat. if that makes any sense.
I have this issue, but I am older and I do contribute mine to hormonal issues with my age.. I am used to it now and I get sleep when I can, even a nap in the day time is helpful. Sometimes I am fully asleep in my chair watching TV at 7:30 or 8:00 and I just sleep.. my husband is used to me like this by now. Get the sleep when you can.
I do a have an amazing prescription medication I can take, I just like to get as much of my own natural sleep as possible.. but this stuff my doc works and works well.. Hopefully you can get this worked out. I know its miserable not sleeping.. It affects everything.. I completely get this.
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