Lack of Sleep

I've been working out and watching what im eating for about 8-9weeks now and the one thing ive noticed is that im struggling with sleep.

I find i lay awake for hours unable to drift off to sleep because i feel so restless, i don't know if its the exercise or the "diet" or something else compleately unrelated but im finding it harder and harder to get to sleep at night, which i find really odd because you'd think i'd be tired from all the extra exercise??

Is this normal?? Is it to do with the diet or the exercise or should i look elsewhere for the cause??

I feel your pain! I've had insomnia for the better part of the past several years. It comes and goes, but usually comes with stress. Have you had more stress in your life lately with work, family, or anything else you can think of?

Here are some tips that people have given me (they've never worked, but maybe you'll have some luck):

-Keep a journal or notepad near your bed, if you have thoughts spinning around in your head, write them down as a means of getting it out (i.e. a to do list of stuff that needs to be done tomorrow)

-Listen to calm music

-Stop watching tv/surfing the net at least one hour before bed time

-Go to bed the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning

-Start a pre bedtime ritual (even if its just brushing teeth, washing the face)

-Pre bedtime meditation

-Reading

-A light pre bedtime snack

-A melatonin supplement

 

I hope some of those help! Keep up with the healthy diet and exercise thought, that will lead to better overall well being.

i find it difficult to fall asleep when I'm hungry so if you're like me diet and exercise could both be contributing.  Usually something small like 4 oz. of orange juice is enough to put me to sleep.

Everytime I've started a diet I've had trouble sleeping for the first few weeks.  I think it must be something to do with having more energy when you eat healthy.  For some reason I just can't drift off. I don't have anything on my mind or I'm not worried about anything. It usually passes after a few weeks, probably my body getting used to the change.

I find doing shots helps put me to sleep.

Original Post by floggingsully:

I find doing shots helps put me to sleep.

 Shots??? haha i hope you don't mean the alcholic ones because im not sure they count as "good calories" or "clean" ones either.

Hmm...make sure you're getting enough calories b/c one of the body's responses to starvation is sleeping less despite feeling weaker.  When someone is starving , intentiallly or not, their body will remain awake to "hunt" for the fuel that it needs to keep the person alive.

You could also try to stretch and relax your muscles a little bit before you sleep.

Sleep can also be disrupted by stress which is often a result of changes in a person's life (in your case, a different level of activity and different eating habits)

Hmm i think im eating enough im calorie cycling eating bettween 1,300 (my deficit caloires) on light days, upto my maintaince (2000) on lifting days.

Im not really "stressed" either tbh my life is much calmer right now than its been in years, perhap im just so used to living in chaos now my lifes sorting it's self out my body can't cope haha.

I read some where once that you should do you exercising at least 3 hours before you go to bed.  if you do it too close to bed time it could make it difficult for your body to shut down. 

Here is a link with info about basic sleep hygiene (a term to refer to behaviors and habits related to sleep).

http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/howto.html

sometimes drastic changes to your diet or activity level can interfere with sleep.  however, it's usually the case that we may randomly have 1-2 tough nights of sleep and then develop some worries about falling asleep.  worrying about being able to sleep often has the ironic effect of waking your body up and making it difficult to sleep (you can think of anxiety as the exact opposite of sleep).  if you notice you're starting to worry about sleep, try to take a step back from those worries, take several slow, deep breaths and picture your body in a relaxed state.  get in touch with your breath and just focus on breathing slowly.  you may also want to cover the alarm clock to minimize temptations to check and see what time it is.  if you can't fall asleep after 30 minutes or so, get out of bed and engage in an activity that promotes sleep (light reading, etc). 

taking alcohol to fall asleep is actually not a smart idea.  alcohol is a depressant, so it has an immediate effect of slowing your body down and promoting rest.  however, there is an opponent process that occurs when the alcohol has run it's course where your body wakes back up (counteracting the effects of the alcohol).  this usually results in night wakings and difficulty falling BACK asleep.  a warm, non alcoholic beverage is preferrable.

good luck...

 

Go to your physician and ask some help. You can have sleeping pills as prescribed by your doctor. Or try other tips. Maybe this will work out!http://www.solutionbay.org/problems/feeling-u nbalanced-unrested

If I work out too late in the evening, I have problems sleeping. Example: Late visit to gym, ending 8 or 9pm. I'll crash at 11pm no problem, and then wake up at 3 or 4am ready to run a marathon. Try working out earlier in the day.