Restless at Night as you Burn Fat?

Can't say that I've experienced restlessness. Are you exercising too close to bedtime? I typically have a period where I get really exhausted and sleepy in the first few weeks. Then I feel renewed and and energetic!

I'm with you! The first couple months of working out I would lay in bed and fall asleep almost instantly... and I'm talking between 9 and 10 pm and I would wake up around 6:30-7am and work out. The past few weeks I've been laying down at 10pm and not being able to fall asleep until close to midnight then I wake up at 6:30-7am feeling tired but I can't fall back asleep so I get up and work out. I'm thinking part of it is from the heat lately but I'm not sure. I have the same where my heart slows way down and then I jolt. I'm assuming it's close to what sleep apnea is like, but I actually wake up and feel my heart racing and slow back down. It's weird. I'm hoping that it's just a phase because my body is finally realizing that my workout/diet is not just a joke and it's throwing me "NOOOO"! Sorry I can't be of help, but you are not the only one feeling this way.

I started running a few weeks ago and on days when I run I have a hard time falling asleep. It doesn't matter what time of day I run. I don't know if you've been exercising but that has been my experience.

I have something similar happening to me. Perhaps it is caused by my late workouts (after the baby is put to bed), but I don't have a problem getting to sleep. Every time i go through a sleep cycle, instead of just drifting into the next cycle I'll fully wake up and the only thing I can do to get back to sleep is flip from one side to the other in bed. Practically every hour last night from 2am to 6am.

My sleeping issues are extremely similar to this and completely unrelated to weight loss / healthy lifestyles.

Gee, I have RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome) and you might want to check that out, cause the symptoms are exactly the same.

This has happened to me a few times... For me, I think it's from getting more exercise now, whereas before I was much more sedentary. If your legs have a creepy crawly feeling, that's restless leg syndrome. I get that sometimes, and I find that rubbing aloe Vera gel on my legs helps a lot! It's cooling and soothing. Also see the thread titled "legs won't stop".

Yes, I've experienced this and I think it may have to do with later workouts. I have had a vague crawly sensation in the legs, but I looked up Restless Leg Syndrome and don't think it's that... or if it is, it's very very mild and doesn't happen often.

I think it may be adrenaline or other chemical reactions going on after a hard workout. It happens to me when I lift weights late, not so much after walking or cardio... just a heavy lifting session.

The exact same thing happens to me. I think it's just because I workout so close to bedtime. I'm usually fine once I finally fall asleep!

Hmmm.... I have been feeling the exact same way lately. I am having such a hard time falling asleep and then staying asleep.

I used to get the jittery leg feeling a lot. I even did a bit of research on RLS. Then is just went away. Now that I have been exercising and changing my eating habits it is back. Maybe I need to look at iron and potassium? With the change in my diet and changed eating habits I may not be getting enough.

"RLS is extremely real.” Fortunately, real remedies exist for it. Here are four to try:

Iron: This nutrient appears to play an important role in dopamine metabolism and, thus, nerve health. More than a fourth of RLS patients are deficient in ferritin (the form in which your body stores iron). Before taking iron supplements, get your ferritin levels checked. Standard blood tests dont measure it, however, so you have to ask for the specific test. Doctors recommend supplementation only if ferritin levels measure less than 50 ng/mL. For those with a deficiency, studies show that taking 200 to 300 mg of oral ferrous sulfate one to three times daily (depending on the degree of deficiency) can improve RLS symptoms if taken over several months. For optimal absorption, take the supplements on an empty stomach, an hour or two after your last meal. Intravenous iron therapy can alleviate symptoms faster and keep them at bay for up to six months. Since taking too much iron can cause you serious harm, make sure to have your iron levels monitored while supplementing.

Folic Acid: For 30 years, researchers have hypothesized that taking folic acid (a key component in nerve health) may alleviate restless legs, particularly when the condition runs in a family. “People who respond best to high doses of folic acid are people who have a family history of RLS,” says naturopathic doctor Dean Neary, chair of the physical medicine department at Bastyr University in Seattle. “Perhaps there is some deficiency that gets passed from gene to gene that causes malabsorption on the folic acid end.” Start at 5 mg daily, and if symptoms persist, you can work your way up to as much as 30 mg. Keep in mind that these dosages are very high (the RDA for folate is 300 to 600 micrograms), so work under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

Magnesium: Restless legs can sometimes occur because of an underlying electrolyte imbalance, says Cuellar. For instance, patients who have an eating disorder or who undergo gastric-bypass surgery, both of which disrupt electrolyte levels, often develop RLS. If an electrolyte imbalance is the culprit, taking extra magnesium may help. This mineral promotes muscle and nerve health, and anyone with RLS can safely supplement with it to see if their condition improves. Try taking anywhere from 200 to 800 mg of elemental magnesium a day at bedtime (start with a low dose, and move higher if necessary.)

L-theanine: Studies have shown that this amino acid, found in green tea, promotes the brain wave activity associated with deep relaxation. It’s also a critical precursor to the relaxing neurotransmitter GABA (gamma amino butyric acid). Even though there’s little research specifically on the use of L-theanine for restless legs, Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, says it has proven itself as “one of the best natural remedies for sleep.” He recommends 200 mg of Sun Theanine one hour before bedtime."

http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/media/Documents/Sept09/remedies-for-restless-leg-synd healthy living.pdf

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/remedies-for-restless-leg-syndrome.html
Edited by suziecue66 on Fri 07/06/12 02:00 PM

I wasn't sleeping well either, but then started drinking the magnesium at night and it helped balance my sleep times. I sleep through the night now with no issues!!