Workout/napping routine

Calliope610
Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
edited November 22 in Fitness and Exercise
Does this happen to anyone else, or is it just me?

I'm 55yo, about 50lbs overweight and I really enjoy my exercise in the form of walking, hiking, road cycling and the occasional session with heavy lifting (really need to amp up the lifting though).

I walk 2-3miles daily, try to cycle 5-10miles 2-3x a week. And I really enjoy my weekend long hikes (4-8miles) and road cycling (15-20miles). At my current level of fitness, these weekend adventures usually take include 3hrs of activity. And afterwards, once I clean up and shower and eat a good lunch, I am so ready for a nap.

I feel like my weekends are "wasted" in a way because although I spend the morning hours participating in really good cardio and endurance workouts, I end up napping for 2-3 hours in the afternoon and feel completely counterproductive.

On one level, I realize this is completely understandable - my body needs to recover, but I wonder if I'm the only one who experiences this and maybe I should just "power through" the fatigue.

Replies

  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    edited October 2017
    I love napping! I'm not as active as you on the weekends, but I've gotten into the habit of napping after my Saturday half-hour run, and it's lovely. So if napping's wrong, I don't want to be right!

    ETA: I'm 34 and currently about 40 lbs overweight, to the extent that matters, but my dad is 64 and freaking the healthiest man in the universe and he naps after long bike rides too. Although that might also be the effect of his post-ride beer.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'd probably want a nap after three hours of exercise too.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    edited October 2017
    If your body asks for a nap go for it........it's surprising the number of adults that are sleep deprived and getting enough sleep can impact weight gain / loss (it affects hormone levels).

    How long have you been exercising? Have you recently increased it significantly? This can affect your feeling of fatigue too, as you body adapts you feel less tired (I'm 61 and still enjoy a nap on Sunday afternoons when my runs get longer during a training cycle, truth be told I'd enjoy a nap in the middle of my work day too but...).

    Are you eating anything before heading out the door? Are you eating a low carb diet? Are you having a little snack mid way through your activities? How long are you waiting after being active to eat? It may also be a function of glycogen depletion. Most people have enough glycogen stored for about 90 minutes of moderate activity hence long distance runners using gels & sports drinks etc when I'm doing long rides I'll carry a Clif bar or PB&J sandwich with me as well as fluids. You may also want to get at least a couple of hundred calories fairly close to being active as your body is more receptive in respect to glycogen replenishment.



  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    Naps are awesome, especially after exercise. If you gave the time, zzzzzzzz.....
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    Thanks for the replies. I feel better knowing I'm not alone in the nap department.

    @BrianSharpe, I have been exercising at this level for about 2-3 years and this has always been problematic for me.

    However, I leave the house early in the morning with just 1-2 cups of coffee and a small breakfast (slice of buttered toast, biscuit). Our (my dog and I) fave hiking spot is about 30 miles away. I do take Clif Bars with me for a on the trail snack and have plenty of hydration. And I always eat big (600-800cals) when we get back to the house. It may be the glycogen depletion factor - I'm not well versed on that subject - need to do some research.



  • leggup
    leggup Posts: 2,942 Member
    Calliope610 wrote: »
    I feel like my weekends are "wasted" in a way because although I spend the morning hours participating in really good cardio and endurance workouts, I end up napping for 2-3 hours in the afternoon and feel completely counterproductive.

    Counterproductive would be eating 2Kcalories of chocolate cake right after. That said, you can try using an alarm to dial back your naps to 1 hr, if you want to spend the time doing other things. Or, try getting more sleep before your weekend hikes.
  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    leggup wrote: »
    Calliope610 wrote: »
    I feel like my weekends are "wasted" in a way because although I spend the morning hours participating in really good cardio and endurance workouts, I end up napping for 2-3 hours in the afternoon and feel completely counterproductive.

    Counterproductive would be eating 2Kcalories of chocolate cake right after. That said, you can try using an alarm to dial back your naps to 1 hr, if you want to spend the time doing other things. Or, try getting more sleep before your weekend hikes.

    Great point. Maybe I feel "unproductive" rather than counterproductive.
  • SkinnyGirlCarrie
    SkinnyGirlCarrie Posts: 259 Member
    I love naps! I will sometimes nap after a particularly hard workout. Of course, I nap all the time anyways...often when I get home from work around 3pm in the afternoon and usually at some point on the weekends too. My kids laugh at me (or complain). I'm 41, work full time with 2 busy kids, I need all the sleep I can get :wink: I will set my alarm so I don't sleep longer than an hour.
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    I <3 naps. The longer, the better.
  • bellaesprita000
    bellaesprita000 Posts: 384 Member
    I also nap on weekends, maybe not for that long, but yes naps are awesome!
  • ladyhusker39
    ladyhusker39 Posts: 1,406 Member
    I'm one of those people who has never been able to nap. I feel like a slug for the rest of day and have a terrible time falling asleep that night if i doze off on the sofa for 20 minutes. But my husband's weekend nap is sacred and we do everything we can to make sure our activities work around one at least one of the 2 days.

    If napping works for you it sounds like a wonderful way to spend your days off.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    i looooooooove sleeping, me. so in an odd way i kind of love lifting and riding because they make the sleeping seem meaningful.

    it's not counterproductive to me if it feels like recovery, basically. otoh i do recognize how much of my life being serious about lifting seems to take up. so in that respect i do know what you mean. it's like 'i lift, ain't got time to do [fill in the blank] anymore'
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