Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Stupid Sleep Cycle

I have discovered that one not-a-good-idea eating habit I have is eating to stay awake. How silly is that? Pretty darn silly.

I think I already knew this but have only recently allowed it to be recognized. And, of course, once recognized, something had to be done. So, I started going to bed earlier. The problem is, I'm ready for bed now around 7:00 pm.

Seriously, I make myself wait until it gets dark before I go to bed. I don't have any trouble sleeping but I started getting up way too early. If the first number in the time is a 3 or a 4, it's way too early to get out of bed. Tucker won't even get up that early.

Basically, the problem is, when I stay up until 10 or 11, I eat to keep myself awake.  When I go to bed as soon as I am sleepy, I awaken at one of those ungodly hours. When I awaken at one of those ungodly hours, I get sleepy earlier.

See what I mean?

I've had to call my will power into play, but it is so unreliable. It works sometimes and doesn't work other times. And I never know whether it's going to be on or off on any given night.

This is much better than a few years ago when I would wake up in the middle of the night and go into the kitchen. While there I would eat something sweet, usually, like ice cream, and then go back to bed. How stupid.

When I go to bed too early and awaken at 3 or 4 something, I just stay in bed and try to make myself relax or go back to sleep--which is not that easy since I've already had 7 hours of sleep at that point. At least there is no more getting up and going into the kitchen for something sweet to eat. As a matter of fact, I'm never ready for food of any type until after my run/walk.

I suppose I'll have to take the good with the bad here, again. It's good that I don't get up in the wee hours and eat but it's bad that I have to eat something to stay awake when I am sleepy. 

Any ideas/tips/tricks on breaking this vicious cycle will be greatly appreciated!

Anyone? 





11 comments:

  1. I think it is a hard place to be in and those rare times it happens, I am not a happy camper. When it starts happening I work harder and then force myself to stay up later and then some how it resets my clock. I know it makes me hungry but I just make myself forget it and drink some water. I know this isn't much help. I also take St. John's Wort. That has helped very much. In fact since I started taking it I am almost sane. :)I said almost.

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  2. I am an early riser no matter when I go to bed. I don't eat after dinner though. That isn't when I'm really hungry so it's not a problem area for me. I'd love to eat dinner earlier because that's when I'm starving but hubs doesn't get home before 6:30 ever so I can't have dinner at 5. That's when I'd like to eat my main meal.

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  3. I haven't stopped by in a while, but I love the new layout!

    I have no help for you - I sleep like the dead - in fact my husband has more than once thought I died because I rarely move when I sleep.

    Over the weekend? I went to bed at 10:45 on Saturday night - I woke up at. . .10:55 - 12 hours of sleep!

    So if I could gift my sleep to you, I would!

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  4. well i too eat a lot more in the evening or desire to----if i find i wake up, i usually play a game on the computer, like solitaire--after a bit, i go right back to sleep!

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  5. I have been known to do both 'eating to stay awake' and 'eating to give me energy cuz I'm so tired.' The best remedy I've found is...


    go to bed. And I've found that I sleep better during the night if I go to bed when I'm tired, rather than waiting until I'm overly tired.

    Also, if I get 20 g. protein breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I don't have nearly the problem I do when I'm short on protein.

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  6. I am so totally worthless if I don't sleep right so I sympathize with your crazy sleeping schedule.

    I've never heard of eating to stay awake thought.

    I wonder if you might consider getting a sleep study.The reason why I even mention this is because I have a sleep disorder myself and the sleep problems you mentioned raised some red flags.

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  7. Kim- I was afraid there was going to have to be a resetting of the clock. UGH. I'm not a nice person when I'm sleepy.

    Joyce- I'm like that too. Regardless of when I go to sleep, I'm up between 5 and 5:30. But I am so much nicer when I've had 7 hours sleep. So. Much. Nicer. LOL

    Biz- Good to 'see' you! I've been reading your blog daily- it comes to me via email- but I know I should click on over there and comment! I've still be adding some of your recipes to the lovelies' cookbooks too!

    LP- I eat just to stay awake. And it's crazy. If I got up and played on the computer, I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep for sure.

    Judy- I know but when I'm ready for bed at 7:00, that's just too early. I'm definitely going to see if the protein helps!

    Jennifer- I haven't thought of that but, if it doesn't resolve itself, I will. Thanks!

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  8. I guess the question is WHAT do you eat when you are up later than 7 PM? IS it air popped popcorn or a bag of Doritos? There is a difference so maybe if you found something "innocent" to nibble on, you could be more of a night owl without the worry of gaining due to snacking.

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  9. I usually eat nuts in the evening to stay awake. I don't think I could go to bed that early. I think that sometimes I don't want the day to end so I try to stay up late and that's silly!

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  10. I recently discovered the SAME thing!! It was 10P and I was dozing, and went to the kitchen for some chocolate chips. The next day, I was like, 'What in the world!!!" If you go to bed earlier, you could get up earlier to exercise!! : )

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  11. A cup of tea can help. It's warm and soothing, plus nowadays there are so many flavors that it can help curb any sweet cravings.

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Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! It makes me feel connected to everyone even though we may live far apart! Have a wonderful day!

 
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