Sleep

39andfat
39andfat Posts: 144 Member
edited November 25 in Fitness and Exercise
Anyone struggle with weight loss due to lack of Sleep? I am awake at 5am and am waiting for alarm to go off in 2 hours time.

Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    What time did you go to bed?
  • 39andfat
    39andfat Posts: 144 Member
    11
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,681 Member
    I find that exercise helps me sleep. :)
  • Kandisn29
    Kandisn29 Posts: 92 Member
    Sleep trouble can make life misery! :( I definitely believe it can cause all sorts of problem for your health, including weight loss. I hope you get it sorted out! Here are some things I do: 1) no caffeine after 2pm 2) peppermint oil if I’m congested 3) absolutely no naps throughout the day 4) have a good pillow
  • 39andfat
    39andfat Posts: 144 Member
    I don't drink caffeine anymore. It's not the going to sleep that's problem. It's staying asleep
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    edited February 2018
    Anecdotal, but I've had good luck supplementing magnesium to help with sleep.


    Can you tell.. are you having trouble staying asleep because your mind is active/racing, or because your body is tense?
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    39andfat wrote: »
    I don't drink caffeine anymore. It's not the going to sleep that's problem. It's staying asleep

    how long have you been waking up early for?
  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 1,049 Member
    I don't have trouble sleeping (barring when the cat smacks my face) but sleep effects just about everything so I can imagine it would affect weight lose. Are you a chronic insomniac? Or is this new?
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    Sleep issues can be related to many things and even be side effects of others.

    Have you made changes in your diet (not just the calorie amount)? How often and what do you do for exercise? What time of day do you exercise? How long have you been in a calorie deficit? How many calories are you eating a day? Any other added or new stressors in your life?
  • 39andfat
    39andfat Posts: 144 Member
    It's not a new thing. I am better than I used to be. I could go days without sleep at all. Now I just wake up after 5 hours.
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    When I have trouble sleeping, I take melatonin. The scientific evidence on it is not clear, but I can’t take other over the counter sleep medicines, and it works for me. Maybe it’s just a nice placebo.

    If this is an ongoing issue, I would see your doctor about a referral to a sleep specialist. There are both physical and psychological things that can cause you to not go back to sleep, so if it’s not getting better, I’d get it checked out.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    You might consider getting evaluated for a sleep disorder.
    My sleep is better than it used to be. My main struggle is that being tired makes me want you eat more to try and get energy, but eating doesn't help me actually feel better. A walk or exercise does help. I lost lots of weight while struggling with sleep, so don't use that as an excuse. Figure out why it causes you to struggle then address that.
  • Tesha231
    Tesha231 Posts: 381 Member
    Sleep. Nutrition. Exercise, in that order, were needed for good health. Easier said than done if you can't sleep right?! Happened to me in my 40's and it turned out I had depressive tendencies. My serotonin levels were out of whack. Zoloft helped after about 6 weeks for the most part. What helped me initially was if I woke up and the gym is open, I just get up and go work out. Gold's opens at 4 a.m. here. After a while I trained myself to get up at 4:50 a.m. so I could intentionally hit the gym by 5:15, shower there then head to work by 7:30. Nothing more frustrating than watching the clock. Might as well make it count. Hope it works!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,542 Member
    +1 to referral to a sleep specialist. In the short run, it might help you a little to do a simple form of meditation while you lie there (like one of the meditation apps or http://relaxationresponse.org/steps/ ), or to try a self-hypnosis recording.

    Yeah, somebody's gonna "woo" this. I'll live. ;)

    Just for the record, other things I've personally tried:

    Hot bath before bed
    Yoga before bed
    Exercise - getting more, and avoiding it before bed
    Consistent sleep/wake times
    Bedtime routines/rituals
    Getting out of bed when unable to sleep
    Don't eat before bed/do eat before bed
    Hot milk
    Carbs before bed, protein before bed, etc
    Avoid screen time just before bed
    OTC meds (diphenhydramine, melatonin, magnesium)
    Sleep type herbal tea in evening
    Caffeine avoidance for X hours before bed
    Aromatherapy pillow sprays
    Use bed/bedroom only for sleep/sex
    Colder room, warmer room, more or fewer clothes/covers
    Restrict liquids X hours before bed
    About 3-4 prescription sleep drugs (I forget which)
    Anti-anxiety prescription drugs (ativan, xanax)
    Muscle relaxant prescription drug (cyclobenzaprine)
    Hypnotherapy by a credentialed psychotherapist
    CPAP treatment for sleep apnea
    Heating pad, ice pack, etc.
    . . . and probably some I'm forgetting. Done out of desperation, some of them, not necessarily out of belief.

    One or more of them will work fully or partially for certain people, and not at all for others.

    I have not tried cognitive behavioral therapy, which is considered effective for "mind racing" insomnia, but not for the type I have (sleep interruption, frequent but short).

    Sincere best wishes!

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