A health epiphany
For today's Weigh-In Wednesday, I promised I would discuss the fitness tasks I assigned myself. And I will, briefly, at the bottom of this post. However, I have had a health epiphany which I feel is extremely important to share.
I do not get enough sleep.
Yep, it's as simple and as complex as that.
I started experimenting with getting more sleep during the weekday, and OH.MY.GOODNESS. does it ever make a world of difference! It's like night and day (sorry, couldn't resist).
Allow me to walk you through the some of the known symptoms of lack of sleep and how they affect me.
Weight gain
In the year that I have been following the get up insanely early schedule I have gone from 128 pounds to 138 pounds. That is TEN POUNDS, people!
Immune system impairment
In this last year, I have had colds, flu symptoms, and a general sense of malaise. In the past, I so rarely got sick, you might as well say I never got sick.
Lack of motivation/sleepiness
By the afternoon each day, I might as well not be at work. All I can do is stare at the computer screen.
Depression/anxiety
Okay, this is the big one. Most mornings I get up, and start my day with a lump in my throat. My brain goes all foggy, and all I want to do is shut down, and crawl back into bed. By the time I get to work, I am pretty much toast.
And here's where I really figured out I need more sleep.
A couple of times in the past week, I have slept an extra hour. And each time, I bounced out of bed completely energized and ready to take on the day.
And get this! I head off to work chipper, eager, and downright happy about the EXACT SAME JOB I have been dreading for the past year.
I go to bed between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., so I realistically cannot go to bed any earlier. Not if I want to actually get anything done in the evening. Which means, I have to get up later in the morning.
This is going to take some changes to the Lion's and my routine, which we will have to discuss.
We currently carpool, and are tied to daycare requirements. I am hoping we can work something out where we can still carpool. However, if we can't then we can't.
My health must come first.
As for my fitness tasks, my first one is following the 100 Push Up Challenge. While I work through this challenge, I will post my push up progress. That will be my focus of my stats, so I will only be posting my weight/measurement stats at 25/50/75/100 push up achievements.
100 Push Up Challenge Stats
Full plank push ups - I can only do 1. I am going to keep attempting more, but the challenge can also be undertaken using the 'from the knees' push ups.
So, from the knee push ups, here are my maximums:
Day 1 - 3
Day 2 - 5
Day 3 - 6
Day 4 - 9
Yeah, sleep would do it. Rant at large, not at you, coming:
You know, I’m always a little amazed at how many people self-proclaim that they’re night owls, insomniacs, just can’t get up early, not made for it…
Oh for god’s sake. Bullshit. Just freakin’ bullshit, people. Are you a human being? Yes? Good. Because we are not nocturnal animals.
Take a month and go to bed at a freakin’ normal time (like 9pm, people?) and get up at a freakin’ normal time (like 6-7am, people?) Get the TV out of the bedroom, throw out the stupid alarm clock and stop making excuses for Really Stupid Behavior like staying up late when you’re not built for it.
People are supposed to sleep. Chronic deprivation has some nasty psychological and physiological effects.
In Spain James, going to bed at 9pm wouldn’t work as most people eat dinner at that time. I think most Spaniards sleep less or something.
I find sleeping too much as the same effect. I did a sleep study once and was told the best for me was 6-7 hours, any longer and my brain wakes up and then I dream lots and end up waking up feeling more tired than when I went to bed.
Sure, just as I decide to jump on the bandwagon, the band takes a coffee (push-up?) break.
I’m also like to go to bed early, usually by 10:00pm, which means I’m usually up between 4-5:00am. I love working in the quiet of the morning. In fact, this is when I do most of my blog writing, and of course, posting my blog for that day.
Juggling schedules is never easy, but if it can be worked out to most people’s satisfaction, it can be a life saver.
I’ve started and stopped the 100 push-up challenge a couple of times, managing to get to week 5. Something always got in my way of finishing (and it was usually me).
I’m about ready to start again, so I’ll be interested to see your progress.
Good luck………….:)
Sleep is overrated! I have been telling myself that for years and I am starting to believe it!
The push up challenge is good. I like to try a different challenge each week this week a wall sit challenge. Keep going strong!
@ Alex - Most adults only need between 6 to 8 hours of sleep to function at optimal levels. Long bouts of sleep or continual oversleeping does more damage than good.
Also, oversleeping becomes a chronic habit, and half the time you’re not really sleeping at all, getting the deep rest you need - as you noted.
@ Mark - You go, buddy! When you drop, we’ll just leave you lying there, sound like a deal?
I never get enough sleep it seems. But I do make time for a little catnap each day. Sometimes it’s as little as 20 minutes, but it makes a huge impact! It’s good for your heart, mind, and body in general. Everyone rips me for doing it, but secretly, I think they are envious.
Push-ups?! ugh. Do I hafta join in too? I bet I can only do a couple before I collapse and have to take my nap.
sleep is good. didn’t you know that. the body has things to do when you are sleep and if you’re not, if bleeps up your system and sometimes you day. i’m cranky as all get out, evil as the devil when i don’t get enough.
i can only do one push up too. once i think i did 2, but i’m sure that’s my max. i have a lot of upper body strength, at least i think i do and look like it, but when it comes time for push ups…can’t do it. i need to strengthen my core too.
keep us posted.
I do lots of push ups on the ballet bar at the gym during body pump…Until I pulled the muscle in my abdomen or tore something off my sternum…getting 2 hours of sleep has become my goal…a couple of days I have mastered up to 6 hours at a shot…
When I am well..I get into bed at 9pm and do my back stretching stuff and just think about all I am grateful for from today. Sometimes a kiddo calls me on the phone and we chat.
I think I am best when I get up by 6:30 and walk for an hour…but 3 mornings a week I lift weights and swim getting up at 4:30…my day just does not go as well, but it gives me something to do with my partner. Who is sick right now and working most days until about 2am because he is attempting to keep food on the table for 12 families - his and his employees…
But I will say - sleep is the best healer we have in our arsenal of tools
and they are finding those after noon power naps of about 20 minutes are vital to folks with high pressure jobs…better than coffee
Good luck on all practices…Thanks for sharing
James - well, I’d say someone was sleep deprived themselves when they wrote that, eh? *grin* Actually, I just can’t do the late nights anymore. I am toast for DAYS after. I like a routine. Granted, there are reasons why people have to get up early, stay up late, work shifts, etc. But it is medically proven to take a toll on your health.
Alex - um, no, you do not get off that easily. I still posted stats about my fitness capabilities AND stated when I would posting my weight, etc. So, ‘fess up. What are your stats this week?
Lisa - oh, see I can’t do the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. thing. That’s what I was doing and it was destroying me. 6 a.m I can do! And I don’t really come alive until 9 or 10 a.m., so no blogging for me in the morning. I tried it. It did not work. AT ALL!
Mark - so, what you are saying is you are sleep deprived to, eh? *smile* I am still going to the gym 3 times per week, so challenging my body in a variety of ways. This push up challenge is to keep me focused on a goal.
James again - we’ll just step over poor Mark. And oversleeping is a problem as well. On the weekends, the Lion sleeps FOREVER, but I am wide awake between 7 and 8 a.m. I think he screws up his sleeping schedule for the rest of the week on the weekends.
Lin - I don’t think my boss would appreciate me face down on my desk for a cat nap. The Lion, on the other hand, because of his stressful job actually has a massage chair at work to nap in!!!! And no, you are not expected to join in on the push-ups. But you might want to give it a try. You should see my biceps! OH, and the girls are perkier. Total bonus!
Natural - yes, I knew sleep was good, just didn’t realize how damaging lack of sleep was. I don’t understand why I cannot do plank push ups. And I’ve seen pics of you. Girl, you are powerful! Actually, women aren’t made for that type of push up. That is my story and I am sticking to it!
Patricia - wowzer! I was exhausted just reading that. As I said to James, there are reasons why people cannot get their full quota of sleep. Hopefully though, those reasons don’t last too long.
It’s been raining here non stop and I’ve gone into hibernation mode, stuffing my face like a chipmunk. Today is sunny for the first time in a while and I actually don’t feel like storing up carbohydrates.
So nope, no stats as it’s embarrassing. Even the Wii Fit told me that.
Alex - Do we need to have a intervention between you and the Wii? “Even the wii told me that” … too funny!
Sleep is definitely so important and I know I don’t get enough of it!! I will say working out though has helped me feel less tired.
Love the pushup challenge, thanks for turning me onto it! I am going to give it a try. And thanks for Mark in comments for the wall challenge - I hate pushups more than wall sits, but it is a close race. I am giving it a shot though!
Wow that’s amazing that sleep can have such an affect on you and the way you function.
I think since having children I’ve become so used to not having a good night’s sleep that I just potter around until I’m fit to fall.
Trouble is I tend to more productive in the evenings, so end up sitting at this darn computer desk til gone midnight.
I’m going to try your idea on for size too and see how it fits.
Kristin - I’m not a big fan of Mark’s burpees that he keeps raving about *grin*
Tara - ah yes, kids. That stage of life when adults walk around in a perpetual daze. It’s amazing how we go into automatic pilot and actually manage to keep the little rugrats safe!