Zzzzzzzz

[Brent Brown]

Without a doubt my biggest failing at this whole thing has been sleep.  Followed closely, so I'm told, by Jack Daniels & Diet Coke (yes, Isderf, I'm looking at YOU ya lurker! :))

 

I get six to seven hours of sleep a night, which isn't enough for me to support the kettlebell workouts.  I think that is the biggest single contributor to me starting to feel worn down.  In my workouts I can tell the difference between six and seven hours the previous night.  That extra hour of sleep really improves what I can accomplish the following day.  I'm sure sleeping as much as a should would make a major difference in my results.

 

To address this, I have started to read Lights Out which seems to be the most respected title on the subject in the Paelosphere.  However I have googled around enough to know the basic prescription.

• 9.5 hours of sleep each night
• Sleep in a pitch black room
• Don't eat around bed time, especially carbs
• Magnesium supplement before bed

In a lot of ways, this is going to be more difficult than the nutrition lifestyle.  Take away bread and oatmeal, that's rough.  Take away time for my hobbies, and you've declared war!  But... I'm going to commit to three months of this regimen and see how I look, feel & perform.  If it is important to me, I will find a way to make it work.

 

During my usual workout time today, I picked up and installed blackout curtains in our bedroom.  Every LED is getting covered in electrical tape and I've got a towel ready to cover the alarm clock.

 

I am also committing to logging the duration of my previous night's sleep in my workout/nutrition logs.  If I start having repeated incidents of less than 9.5 hours, you are hereby authorized, requested and required to give me bucket loads of crap!   Or at least call me on it, if you're a nicer type.  :-D

 

It is going to be a challenge... but what else is new around here.  :)

[Pam Benedick]

I am really interested to see how this works for you. I too feel that I don't get enough sleep and after awhile it really starts to wear on me. Trying to be better about that but those couple of hours after my kids go to sleep are GOLDEN for me.......thanks for keeping us posted on it!

[Brent Brown]

@Rachelle Thanks!  Yeah, it'll be interesting to see how it goes. The Lights Out argument seems to be that our physiology is tied to the earth's seasonal light cycles. Or all of the extra artificial light causes our bodies to think that it is "perpetually August" which is the season that we put on fat for the lean winter times to come, and basically screws us all up.  Not sure I'm totally sold on all that yet... but there is no doubt that I need to sleep more anyway.

 

@Jim Thanks!  I'll pick up some of both

[Jim B]

Brent, I find that ZMA and melatonin are a great sleep aid.

[Rachelle Lowder]

I will be curious to see what this does for you. My room is dark, but not pitch black...We have an alarm clock in our room, but it's on my husband's side so, his body pretty much blocks it. Tried the sleeping mask route, but found it annoying. I take magnesium every night anyway and can't say that it does much to help. Or maybe it does initially, but I still tend to toss more than I'd like.

 

Anywhoo...Good luck!! =)