training on no sleep

[Goat Meal]

i train around 4 to 5 days a week. i have bouts of insomnia where i don't sleep at all or get very little sleep, then have to put in a full days work and everything. on days like that, if i'm dog tired after work, should i still go train or more often than not should i just use that as one of my rest days and go sleep?

i know we're supposed to listen to our bodies, but sometimes when we're really mentally fatigued we can justify to ourselves taking a day off when really we just need to push through it.

 

[Henry Swanson]

Well you can try to work in your rest days on days where you've gotten less sleep. Have you seen a doctor about your insomnia? I had insomnia for a while there and I went to see a doctor. But mine was related to depression/anxiety as well.

 

[Goat Meal]

Well you can try to work in your rest days on days where you've gotten less sleep. Have you seen a doctor about your insomnia? I had insomnia for a while there and I went to see a doctor. But mine was related to depression/anxiety as well.

no, i haven't yet. the episodes, i guess, aren't occuring enough for me to worry about it yet. for the most part i'm a healthy sleeper.

i ask this question because last night i had a really intense sparring session and was tired, but just couldn't get to sleep no matter what. i worked a full day today and just crashed. of course that guilt starts creeping in because i had to miss training.

 

[Henry Swanson]

no, i haven't yet. the episodes, i guess, aren't occuring enough for me to worry about it yet. for the most part i'm a healthy sleeper.

i ask this question because last night i had a really intense sparring session and was tired, but just couldn't get to sleep no matter what. i worked a full day today and just crashed. of course that guilt starts creeping in because i had to miss training.

How close to your bed time was the sparring session. I used to have late night Judo practice that left me physically tired but would cause me troubles getting to sleep. Generally speaking, it's best to have 2 hours of downtime before bed, at least for me.

Also, are you using stimulants (Nicotine, cigarettes)?

 

[MikeMartial]

How close to your bed time was the sparring session. I used to have late night Judo practice that left me physically tired but would cause me troubles getting to sleep. Generally speaking, it's best to have 2 hours of downtime before bed, at least for me.

I'm in the exact same boat; I have training sessions that end at 9-9:30 PM, and if I have to work the next day, I'm up at 6 AM. I always have a shitty sleep after these training sessions. Even ZMA and a dose of Benadryl won't help.

on days like that, if i'm dog tired after work, should i still go train or more often than not should i just use that as one of my rest days and go sleep?

As for training on no sleep---you'll be diving into a vicious cycle of overtraining unless you fix the problem of insomnia. You may be doing more harm than good by training through sleep deprivation.

Think of it this way: Is it better to have more training sessions at low-quality, or less training sessions at a higher intensity? I'd easily pick the later of the two.

 

[911=GovntOp]

I've had this problem a few times where I've had little sleep and still worked out. It definetly sucks cuz you have to force yourself and you feel miserable.

I think if you do it a few times its okay, but if it's on back-to-back days that could be a problem because sleep is when your body recovers and grows new hormons.

 

[Ian Coe]

Are you taking a decent multi and/or ZMA (I'm thinking training 4-5 times a week you could be magnesium deficient, which is linked to poor sleep).

I would suggest other things, but first things first.

I usually finish training at 10.30, get home by 11 and need to be up at 7.50. Not to mention eating, taking the dog walk and still having to go to bed

 

[Goat Meal]

Thanks for the replies.

First, my sparring session was at noon and lasted for two hours. My bedtime is around 10:30or 11pm.

Also, I've got a ZMA supplement, but I have a hard time remembering to take it. I'm not taking any other supplements besides fish oil. Suggestions on this?

 

[Keyboard]

I put my ZMA right next to my toothbrush so I see it when I'm in the washroom brushing my teeth. Works like a charm, cause as soon as I reach for my toothbrush the ZMA is there, and I just down 3 of em. I'm not sure if that's what you were asking for advice about however.

 

[MikeMartial]

Thanks for the replies.

First, my sparring session was at noon and lasted for two hours. My bedtime is around 10:30or 11pm.

Then it's obviously not a late-night workout problem. Without knowing a whole lot of personal details, I'd point to stress/depression, like Sonny stated. It can be the first manifestation of undiagnosed depression and/or stress.

 

[Henry Swanson]

Then it's obviously not a late-night workout problem. Without knowing a whole lot of personal details, I'd point to stress/depression, like Sonny stated. It can be the first manifestation of undiagnosed depression and/or stress.

Yeah, when I finally started treatment for depression, I had my first straight 6+ hours of sleep THAT night.

 

[LCDforMe]

^a close relative of mine suffered from depression. Their sleep paterns were all fucked up until the medicine was situated. Talk to a doctor. I hope that it is simply sleeping problems. Depression is not a good thing to deal with...

 

[Chris Kimmerly]

I know what you are talking about. If I get to to sleep before 8:00 I can sleep all night but if it gets past 10:00 I am awake until 4-5 in the morning and up by 7o It really sucks.

Take time off to sleep and try to rest your internal clock.

 

[Bry]

I am a horrible sleeper. So I really listen to my body. I can usually handle one bad night of sleep but if I get two or more a week, then I will skip training. I have pushed myself into the over training phase before and ended up depressed, couldn't ever sleep, missed work, hurt my back and started hating training. I talked to my coach and he told me to go home and not come back until I was rested.
So when I my body says it's to tired to go to training, I listen.
Of course I am an old man also so it probably plays hell on my body more then others.
Listen to your body!

Bry

 

[waterfall]

Sounds like you could be over training to me. You need to back off a bit, get more rest and see how you feel. If you fatigue yourself long enough, sooner or later rest will be forced upon you via injury or illness. Get some good regular rest now. Resting should be part of your training plan.

Also, you should feel just as guilty about not resting as not training. Rest is vitally necessary for good training. Good luck.

 

[Henry Swanson]

It's weird when you're overtrained, you're dead tired but you can't sleep.

 

[Luke Bucknell]

a quote from the national sleep foundation

"Sleep experts recommend exercising at least three hours before bedtime, and the best time is usually late afternoon. Exercising at this time is beneficial because body temperature is related to sleep. Body temperatures rise during exercise and take as long as 6 hours to begin to drop. Because cooler body temperatures are associated with sleep onset, it

 

[Henry Swanson]

a quote from the national sleep foundation

"Sleep experts recommend exercising at least three hours before bedtime, and the best time is usually late afternoon. Exercising at this time is beneficial because body temperature is related to sleep. Body temperatures rise during exercise and take as long as 6 hours to begin to drop. Because cooler body temperatures are associated with sleep onset, it

 

[fokai]

Yeah I find it hard to sleep if i try right after a training session. Your body will be exhausted but you have alot of mental activity still going on. Your mind is constantly thinking which keeps you up. You need to have a good amount of relax time before you hit the sack. Even reading a book can help slow things down.

 

[PariahCarey]

While my daily pothead days are over I keep a small amount of KTFO w--d just for this reason.