Insomia with new diet and exercise?

kristinaohno

So, I'm going on about 3 1/2 weeks of cutting down my calories, counting them, and exercising in the morning. I'm now having trouble sleeping. I had trouble before due to medication but I am no longer on it, I'm on something else and it wasn't effecting my sleep. I have sleep medicine from the dr but I don't like to use it unless I really have to. Can my new diet and exercise be affecting my sleep? I fall asleep fine but have a very hard time staying asleep.

sknopps

I would love to hear some answers on this! I've been on MFP for about 45 days. Here it is after 3am and I can't fall asleep. It's like this ALL the time. I have a baby to take care of! LOL

aa1440

Melatonin! I work night shift and this is what helps me to sleep during the day. It does not put you to sleep. It relaxes you so you can sleep.

capriciousmoon

It could have to do with how you're eating. I know if I don't eat enough I can't sleep properly.

kristinaohno

Melatonin! I work night shift and this is what helps me to sleep during the day. It does not put you to sleep. It relaxes you so you can sleep.

I've tried that, it doesn't work :[
My mom has really bad sleep problems and I can see it happening to me now. Even sometimes I can't sleep well with the doctor prescribed sleep aid.

CindyWarner

How many grams of melatonin do you take? I take 2 but you can take as much as 5. Also I play relaxation music while I'm trying to sleep. This helps me concentrate on something else rather than what I have to do the next day. I have a favorite that I bought from Shoppers for only 15$. It's called "Sleep". Money worth spent.

I don't know when you are exercising but try not doing it in the evening before you go to sleep. Exercising usually helps people sleep but if it's done too close to sleeping time it can have the opposite effect.

A warm bath rather than a shower before bed can help tense muscles.

Also try having a glass of milk or Almond milk just before bed. This relaxes you and your digestive system.

Are you getting enough grains in your diet? My Dr. told me to exclude all wheat but incude quinoa, flax seed and wild rice because they have better nutrients than even whole wheat. As a bread subsitue she said use corn or rice tortias. Not enough grains in your diet can lead to depression/anxiety and that can have a big effect on sleep. If your depressed, tell your Dr. they have a lot of treatments now a days that can really help.No electronics at least two hours before bed. (With the acception of bed time music.) This includes TV, Computer, Cell phone. If you have a cell, keep it in another room while you are sleeping.

Treat yourself to a proffesional massage once in a while. Sometimes I get one for my back, neck, shoulders and other times I get one done on my face, forehead, jaw area.

Do you have pressure in between the eyebrows. If you do have your partner massage that part of your body until you feel sleepy enough to go to sleep.

Do you snore a lot or wake up holding your breath. Ask your partner if you don't know and if you do report that to your doctor.

Are you getting enough vitamin D? Ask your Dr. to do a full blood test on all your vitamins. Also you can buy what is called a "happy light" which you turn on in the daytime to make sure you are getting enough vitamin D.


Take sleeping pills only when you are truely not able to sleep. They can be addictive and have what is called a boomerang effect that can leave you too awake the next night and then you feel like you need another the next night ect.... Try not taking them because you are afraid that you can't sleep. I have some for "emergencies" like I can't get any to sleep 2 nights in a row.

Go to the bathroom right before bed even if you "don't have to". There is nothing more annoying than needing to "go" just when you think your going to get to sleep.

Medication can make you stay awake. Ask your pharmacy about that sometimes they have a better sense of reactions than some of the Dr.s. Of course ask your doctor too.


Whatever you do, if you find something that works, make it a bedtime routine.

I'm not an expert but I've had a lot of trouble falling a sleep in the past. I now have a routine and it works.

Cdcaldwe

For about two months i didn't sleep at all. I am still not sleeping as much as I should be even now.

kristinaohno

i have no trouble falling asleep, it's just that i wake up anywhere from 3am-4am wide awake. i go to bed around 10 and that's not enough sleep. i do suffer from anxiety and depression but i'm on something for that. when i was on Cymbalta i couldn't sleep at all so i got switched to Paxil and haven't had any problems until recently. i can't get comfortable and it's always too hot in my room, even with the central air on, and two fans in my room. i also have MS and i'm wondering if this has something to do with it as well.

CindyWarner

oooh it's too hot in your room. Then make sure you have a cool bath/shower before bed. Sleep with just a sheet on. (Even if you are not wearing any jammies.) Even though you have the a/c on try leaving a window in the bedroom open just a crack for fresh air.

I too suffer from anxitey/depression and sometimes I wake up at night. If I do I go to the bathroom, have a glass of water and put back on my bedtime music. Most of the time I fall back to sleep within 10 minutes, while the music is still playing. Before I had the music, I'd be wired at 3AM.

If your hungery in the middle of the night, then have a glass of milk instead of water. One glass is not going to make you gain weight.

Oh yeah, Is it dark enough in your room? Even the moon light can wake me up. I keep the blinds shut and the alarm clock on the floor so it's not shining on me at night.

If all that does not work, then yes cut back on the exercise a wee bit until you are sleeping well. Once you are sleeping well you can gradually increase your exercise.