Post-Workout Insomnia

hope516

Hi everyone. Has anyone ever noticed post-workout insomnia and have any tips to beat it!?

I normally only follow my calories and don't exercise much due to pure laziness and bad knees but each time I try to squeeze a workout into my life I can't sleep that night and have to stop because I NEED my sleep. I have tried powering thru and maybe my body will adjust for about a week or two but after that I just give up on it altogether because I prefer my ZZZZZ's

I workout early in the morning and by no means is it a strenuous exercise (damn bad knees.) Yesterday I walked on an extremely flat surface about 3 mph for about 25 mins, and last night I was only able to get about 3 or 4 hours of sleep.

I never drink caffeine so I know this is not the culprit.

SR1986

That's interesting! I find I wake earlier in the morning when I've been on a good workout routine/eating "right". Like I'm less tired, which doesn't really make sense either, cuz I workout as hard as my body will let me. My knees are pretty bad too. My left is worse than my right. I put Bengay on them and put the stretchy braces on. Before a workout.Dr also prescribed Voltaren gel for them. I don't have trouble falling asleep. Staying asleep after about 5 hours has been a problem. I used to take melatonin. So much so, that I couldn't sleep without it. I weaned myself off about a year ago and only take it now when I do get insomnia. I've heard from friends, and online that valerian root is very good for helping to fall asleep, and stay asleep in those who have insomnia. Valerian root is natural (I think) and not a faked hormone (like melatonin) so it might be safer, but don't quote me on that. You might try that or a homeopathic remedy like calms Forte by Hyland's. Hyland's also has one just for sleep. It's all homeopathic (not like a real medicine but different combinations of several natural substances that may help). I don't want you to be discouraged from working out but I can understand why you would be wary. I LOVE to sleep. Lol. I would try some different things and see if you can't figure out how to ease the insomnia. Best of luck!

Spliner1969

I work out early in the mornings, and do deal with insomnia most nights, but I have had that issue since high school anyway. Most nights it takes a couple Benadryl or Melatonin (and sometimes both) to get a decent night's sleep. I do drink caffeinated drinks, including a pre-workout from time to time but I don't use caffeine after lunch. If you do try Melatonin get the smallest dose you can find (1-2mg) and only use it for a night or two. It's easy to get dependent on it quickly. It should be used to get past a sleepless night or two, but beyond that it has the opposite effect.

crooked_left_hook

I wish I had this problem! I usually crash really hard after a workout, to the point that I need a nap, so I workout in the evenings.

astrampe

Don't think a mild walk early in the morning can have any influence on sleep.....

SR1986

KT6377 wrote: »

I wish I had this problem! I usually crash really hard after a workout, to the point that I need a nap, so I workout in the evenings.

I work out in the evenings as well. It's the only time I have. Cuz heaven forbid I get up earlier. Lol. I fall asleep much faster when I've had an exhausting workout.

slowbubblecar

I don't think a walk in the morning should matter either, unless you are sore from it the remainder of the day and all night. If that is the case, maybe you would be better off walking twice for less time with a break.

5n00py

From what I've read, they recommend not doing a heavy workout within 3 hours of bedtime as the "feel good" hormones are still pumping around your system and are liable to keep you awake....

missiontofitness

5n00py wrote: »

From what I've read, they recommend not doing a heavy workout within 3 hours of bedtime as the "feel good" hormones are still pumping around your system and are liable to keep you awake....

Yep. I can generally only find time to work out at night after work, and I have this issue regularly. I generally try to make my evenings VERY mellow when I work out at night, to help my body shut down and relax as early as I can.

canadianlbs

what is it that keeps you awake? is it pain of some kind or just that jazzed-up feeling?

i do get the prowls sometimes if i lift in the evenings. very rarely, the same thing from my homeward bike ride, but i have to really push it hard to get myself into that state via bike. i pretty much avoid lifting after 7pm, but now that i think about it i don't know how much of that is the exercise itself, and how much is just the fact that i always need a lot of wind-down time to get myself into night mode. so if i lift late, then that pushes the decompress window out.

lately with the way the weather has been, i've gone back to pre-bedtime hot baths. that really seems to fast-track me towards sleepiness, for what that's worth.

shor0814

hope516 wrote: »

Hi everyone. Has anyone ever noticed post-workout insomnia and have any tips to beat it!?

I normally only follow my calories and don't exercise much due to pure laziness and bad knees but each time I try to squeeze a workout into my life I can't sleep that night and have to stop because I NEED my sleep. I have tried powering thru and maybe my body will adjust for about a week or two but after that I just give up on it altogether because I prefer my ZZZZZ's

I workout early in the morning and by no means is it a strenuous exercise (damn bad knees.) Yesterday I walked on an extremely flat surface about 3 mph for about 25 mins, and last night I was only able to get about 3 or 4 hours of sleep.

I never drink caffeine so I know this is not the culprit.

I can relate, right now. Worked out a bit later than usual, not much, but now I am wide awake at midnight. The pre-workout has nothing to do with it I am sure. I used to work out in the mornings and felt great and slept well. Change in job and schedule leaves me with evening only workouts some nights. I miss my mornings.