waking up late

crystalroselynn
crystalroselynn Posts: 117 Member
edited January 27 in Health and Weight Loss
so i cant seem to wake myself up early. i usually wake up around 10 or 11. is that effecting my weight loss? maybe once i get more exercise in i will wake up earlier? help and tips please?

Replies

  • youngcaseyr
    youngcaseyr Posts: 293 Member
    What time are you going to bed? If you're awake for fewer hours because you wake up a few hours later than most but are still eating the same amount as those who are awake 3-4 hours earlier than you, you're not burning as many calories as they are because you're sleeping and you're inactive. Also, if you eat breakfast soon after you wake up, what time do you eat lunch? By waking up so late you're essentially skipping breakfast and going straight to brunch or lunch, and you may need to recalculate how many calories you're eating and when you're eating certain meals.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    You should be fine. Do your best to get a good nights sleep whether that means a 10pm bedtime and waking at 6-7am or 3am-11am. I tend to stay up later so I wake up later.
  • crystalroselynn
    crystalroselynn Posts: 117 Member
    i usually wake up at 11, have breakfast at 1130, go for a 15-20 min walk, come home eat a snack, go to the gym about 2, come home and eat around 3-330, snack on fruit, and have dinner around 6.

    how do you get yourself to go to bed earlier?
    i usually go to bed at 12-130 :(
  • cookiealbright
    cookiealbright Posts: 605 Member
    how do you get yourself to go to bed earlier?

    [/quote]

    HaHa! Get up earlier! :flowerforyou:
  • youngcaseyr
    youngcaseyr Posts: 293 Member
    Going to bed earlier starts with waking up earlier so you will actually be tired when it's time to go to bed. If you have curtains in your room, try leaving them open so the sun comes in in the morning. Exposure to sunlight triggers the body to stop producing melatonin, which is a sleep inducing chemical produced by the brain when there is less sun exposure (usually at night, but it's also a reason that people feel lazy on cloudy days or days with less exposure to direct sunlight). Also, having the light come into your room makes it harder to stay asleep- for me at least. If you remain moderately active during the day then, hopefully, by the end of the day you'll be more ready for bed. Some find it helpful to have a nightly routine to get ready for bed in order to solidify in your mind that it is bed time. It won't happen overnight but, if you keep up with it, it should get easier in a few days and will hopefully become a habit after a few weeks.
  • crystalroselynn
    crystalroselynn Posts: 117 Member
    i suppose sunshine is the answer :):flowerforyou:
    thanks guys!
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    i usually wake up at 11, have breakfast at 1130, go for a 15-20 min walk, come home eat a snack, go to the gym about 2, come home and eat around 3-330, snack on fruit, and have dinner around 6.

    how do you get yourself to go to bed earlier?
    i usually go to bed at 12-130 :(

    Sounds rough.
  • kgoodman0108
    kgoodman0108 Posts: 158
    i usually wake up at 11, have breakfast at 1130, go for a 15-20 min walk, come home eat a snack, go to the gym about 2, come home and eat around 3-330, snack on fruit, and have dinner around 6.

    how do you get yourself to go to bed earlier?
    i usually go to bed at 12-130 :(

    I used to have this schedule during the summer when I still lived with my parents. Looking back, I realize the negative impact it had on me. What do you do after you eat dinner until you fall asleep? For me, it was laying on the couch or on the computer. Set your alarm, and make yourself wake up earlier and earlier each day. You don't need to force yourself to wake up early immediately. Try waking up at 10:30 tomorrow, and 10:00am the next day. You'll gradually start wanting to go to bed earlier.

    Like someone else mentioned, the longer you are inactive, the fewer calories your body burns throughout the day.
  • LauraDotts
    LauraDotts Posts: 732 Member
    I found that a job motivated me to get up earlier. Still does.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    i usually wake up at 11, have breakfast at 1130, go for a 15-20 min walk, come home eat a snack, go to the gym about 2, come home and eat around 3-330, snack on fruit, and have dinner around 6.

    how do you get yourself to go to bed earlier?
    i usually go to bed at 12-130 :(

    Sounds rough.

    Yeah, sounds absolutely brutal. You poor thing.

    But seriously, you should start setting your alarm an hour earlier every few days until you're on a better schedule. No naps in the afternoon (for now as you adjust to a new schedule). And stay away from bright (especially blue) lights (TVs, computers, phones, etc.) for a few hours before you plan to sleep.

    Or, alternatively, grow up all at once and just start getting up earlier.
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    No, sleeping late doesn't necessarily negatively affect your weight loss. Getting enough sleep is important for a lot of reasons, so if you are getting 7-9 hours, that's good news. If you stay up late, sleep late to get enough sleep. If you can't sleep in, go to bed earlier. If you are getting more than enough sleep (and it sounds like you are borderline getting too much sleep), the negative effects are mostly just wasting your own time.

    If you sleep through "breakfast," no problem. Nothing bad happens. What is going to matter is how many calories you are consuming for the entire day vs. how many you expend. Just make sure you are consuming the appropriate amount for your activity level.
  • eep223
    eep223 Posts: 624 Member
    If you prefer to sleep in, sleep in. You are still fitting your exercise in. There are all sorts of studies about when is best to exercise, but ultimately, it doesn't matter as long as you are doing it AND getting enough sleep.

    I was always a night owl, too, until my work hours changed around. Nothing wrong with that.
  • eep223
    eep223 Posts: 624 Member
    i usually wake up at 11, have breakfast at 1130, go for a 15-20 min walk, come home eat a snack, go to the gym about 2, come home and eat around 3-330, snack on fruit, and have dinner around 6.

    how do you get yourself to go to bed earlier?
    i usually go to bed at 12-130 :(

    Sounds rough.

    Yeah, sounds absolutely brutal. You poor thing.

    But seriously, you should start setting your alarm an hour earlier every few days until you're on a better schedule. No naps in the afternoon (for now as you adjust to a new schedule). And stay away from bright (especially blue) lights (TVs, computers, phones, etc.) for a few hours before you plan to sleep.

    Or, alternatively, grow up all at once and just start getting up earlier.

    Why do you think sleeping in means a person has to grow up? People have all different schedules for all different reasons. None of these reasons have anything to do with you.
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    i usually wake up at 11, have breakfast at 1130, go for a 15-20 min walk, come home eat a snack, go to the gym about 2, come home and eat around 3-330, snack on fruit, and have dinner around 6.

    how do you get yourself to go to bed earlier?
    i usually go to bed at 12-130 :(

    Sounds rough.

    Yeah, sounds absolutely brutal. You poor thing.

    But seriously, you should start setting your alarm an hour earlier every few days until you're on a better schedule. No naps in the afternoon (for now as you adjust to a new schedule). And stay away from bright (especially blue) lights (TVs, computers, phones, etc.) for a few hours before you plan to sleep.

    Or, alternatively, grow up all at once and just start getting up earlier.

    Why do you think sleeping in means a person has to grow up? People have all different schedules for all different reasons. None of these reasons have anything to do with you.

    I believe that sleeping in is highly correlated with not yet having grown up. Yes, indeed, people have all different schedules for all different reasons...many of them are the result of grown up situations like shift work, caring for others, sleep issues, etc. OP didn't offer any of these as applicable to her situation, so I went with the most likely explanation: that her "sleeping in" problem is probably a result of having not yet matured to the point of making better choices about her sleep patterns. Are there some assumptions in my conclusion? Sure...but that's generally how it works here. We're dealing with limited information and have to make a few inferences.

    And my apologies that my answer *to OP* was so offensive *to you* that you felt you had to WK on her behalf. I doubt that was the case (and conveniently enough, if it is, then it's even further support for my conclusion). Said another way, my post had nothing to do with you.
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    If simply getting up earlier (and getting sunlight in the morning) doesn't do the trick for you, this may help.

    http://www.amazon.com/Chronotherapy-Resetting-Inner-Alertness-Quality/dp/1583334726/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1371759635&sr=1-1&keywords=chronotherapy
  • TracyJo93
    TracyJo93 Posts: 197 Member
    i usually wake up at 11, have breakfast at 1130, go for a 15-20 min walk, come home eat a snack, go to the gym about 2, come home and eat around 3-330, snack on fruit, and have dinner around 6.

    how do you get yourself to go to bed earlier?
    i usually go to bed at 12-130 :(

    Sounds rough.

    Yeah, sounds absolutely brutal. You poor thing.

    But seriously, you should start setting your alarm an hour earlier every few days until you're on a better schedule. No naps in the afternoon (for now as you adjust to a new schedule). And stay away from bright (especially blue) lights (TVs, computers, phones, etc.) for a few hours before you plan to sleep.

    Or, alternatively, grow up all at once and just start getting up earlier.

    THIS. Get a job or something and you won't be able to worry about taking naps or sleeping in. I'm up bright and early at 5:00 everyday, and sometimes I'm up till midnight doing homework. Its not impossible.
  • crystalroselynn
    crystalroselynn Posts: 117 Member
    thanks for all the input guys! i think my sleep pattern sucks because i work late at night until 12 and when i get home i stay up for an hour or so to let my mind rest. however, thats only 5ish days of the week so i have no excuse.

    as for any "negativity" i just see them all as advice. perhaps i need some pushing to do so that i can do right. as long as no one is calling me a fat butt everything is gravy.

    new goal: go to bed earlier

    i currently dont take any naps nor do i plan to.

    thanks peeps
  • crystalroselynn
    crystalroselynn Posts: 117 Member
    i usually wake up at 11, have breakfast at 1130, go for a 15-20 min walk, come home eat a snack, go to the gym about 2, come home and eat around 3-330, snack on fruit, and have dinner around 6.

    how do you get yourself to go to bed earlier?
    i usually go to bed at 12-130 :(

    Sounds rough.

    Yeah, sounds absolutely brutal. You poor thing.

    But seriously, you should start setting your alarm an hour earlier every few days until you're on a better schedule. No naps in the afternoon (for now as you adjust to a new schedule). And stay away from bright (especially blue) lights (TVs, computers, phones, etc.) for a few hours before you plan to sleep.

    Or, alternatively, grow up all at once and just start getting up earlier.

    Why do you think sleeping in means a person has to grow up? People have all different schedules for all different reasons. None of these reasons have anything to do with you.

    I believe that sleeping in is highly correlated with not yet having grown up. Yes, indeed, people have all different schedules for all different reasons...many of them are the result of grown up situations like shift work, caring for others, sleep issues, etc. OP didn't offer any of these as applicable to her situation, so I went with the most likely explanation: that her "sleeping in" problem is probably a result of having not yet matured to the point of making better choices about her sleep patterns. Are there some assumptions in my conclusion? Sure...but that's generally how it works here. We're dealing with limited information and have to make a few inferences.

    And my apologies that my answer *to OP* was so offensive *to you* that you felt you had to WK on her behalf. I doubt that was the case (and conveniently enough, if it is, then it's even further support for my conclusion). Said another way, my post had nothing to do with you.


    hey man its all gravy. thanks for the advice. as for the maturity thing, i think its just because my late work schedule and because im not use to all this new eating and exercising and healthy life style. i was lazy not because i was immature, i was lazy because i was lazy. i dont think waking up early is going to make me mature but i know that it will help me live better

    thanks again
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    thanks for all the input guys! i think my sleep pattern sucks because i work late at night until 12 and when i get home i stay up for an hour or so to let my mind rest. however, thats only 5ish days of the week so i have no excuse.

    as for any "negativity" i just see them all as advice. perhaps i need some pushing to do so that i can do right. as long as no one is calling me a fat butt everything is gravy.

    new goal: go to bed earlier

    i currently dont take any naps nor do i plan to.

    thanks peeps

    Yay for more information about the situation.

    That hour of unwind after work is totally normal (IMHO). You could probably work on decreasing the time you need for that, but honestly, I'm just guessing (based mostly on the fact that we humans are remarkably adaptable to just about anything with practice). And that you have this potentially-less-than-ideal work schedule five days of the week will very likely make it difficult to do anything differently on the other two. It's tough to fight a consistent pattern like that.

    I like your new goal. Even if you just manage to shift your sleep patterns a half hour or a full hour, it may be enough to completely change how you feel (over time). It's certainly worth a try.

    And despite what I may have said earlier about lack of maturity being a possible explanation for the problem, if given a choice between sleeping in and not getting adequate sleep (for a particular person*), I'll take sleeping in every time. Inadequate sleep is a Very Bad Thing™. Even if you think you're immune to it or that you're still high-functioning when sleep deprived, the ramifications of it are cumulative and it *will* eventually catch up with you. Maybe not this week, maybe not even this year, but eventually, the sleep debt will need to be repaid in one form or another.

    * "Adequate sleep" is a tricky concept and is a very individual-specific thing that depends on a ridiculous number of variables...from quality of sleep, activity level, type of activity, genetics, and on and on. So perhaps someone is one of those rare people who functions just fine long-term on six hours sleep. Only time will tell...(at least until we have some reliable and widely-available methods for testing adequate rest).

    Anyhow, OP, I applaud your attitude towards the advice given in response to your question here. I'll admit, it's a very *mature* approach. :drinker:
  • Alwayssohungry
    Alwayssohungry Posts: 369 Member
    I found that a job motivated me to get up earlier. Still does.

    Ummm yup
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    Inadequate sleep is a Very Bad Thing™. Even if you think you're immune to it or that you're still high-functioning when sleep deprived, the ramifications of it are cumulative and it *will* eventually catch up with you. Maybe not this week, maybe not even this year, but eventually, the sleep debt will need to be repaid in one form or another.
    Yep, it's kinda like eating too big a deficit. It may seem like a good idea in the short term, but your brain just ends up weak and skinny fat.
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