You guys have opinions on how many hours a night you’d consider a minimum?
I’ve read everything from 10 hours to “everybody’s different.” I’ve always noticed when I’d train harder I’d sleep better and have more energy even without “enough” sleep … but that doesn’t seem to work anymore …
5 years ago I’d sleep 8 hours no matter when I went to bed. Now I wake up at 5 or 6 am regardless.
Adjusting to bed at 9 or 10 seems ridiculous … I’ve been tired recently on 6 hours but it could be all the protein???
I guess I’d be interested if anybody’s getting by on 6 hours or less and feeling good … maybe I need a lot more alcohol …
Well, everyone will be different. There are so many factors that will determine how much you need.
Probably 6-10 is a good starting point. Another method, is to try to go to sleep around the same time every night, and wake up every day naturally without an alarm clock. That will be your optimal amount.
Also dont, drink any caffeine before bed, and Ive heard various supplements like ZMA will be beneficail.
Personally, I can function in day to day life on 5 to 6 hours. The problem is when lifting I notice a difference in my energy levels in the gym if I get less than 8. So for me if I am going to lift the next day I keep this in mind.
sounds like 8 it is. If I keep waking up at 5 or 6 that’s 10 PM to bed or earlier. I haven’t gone to bed that early since I couldn’t watch the second half of monday night football at age 12 …
if i sleep over 9 hours, im tired the rest of the day. 7-8 is optimal for me
anyone get a rush when they have 0 hours of sleep? no sleep + caffeine, like after an all-nighter of studying, makes my heart beat really fast. ive had some curiously strong workouts on no sleep
oh and someone recommended ZMA. good stuff. ive been taking zinc alone and ive been having the most vivid dreams. 3 girls in one dream? amazing.
[quote]bulldogtor wrote:
if i sleep over 9 hours, im tired the rest of the day. 7-8 is optimal for me
anyone get a rush when they have 0 hours of sleep? no sleep + caffeine, like after an all-nighter of studying, makes my heart beat really fast. ive had some curiously strong workouts on no sleep
oh and someone recommended ZMA. good stuff. ive been taking zinc alone and ive been having the most vivid dreams. 3 girls in one dream? amazing.[/quote]
Ditto on the ZMA dreams. Every night is like watching a new movie.
During the school year, I was getting like 5-6 hours a night and like 8 on weekends.
Now, it’s summer and I’m getting a lot more sleep, but at odd hours.
I’ll usually get to bed anywhere from 2-5am and wake up anywhere from noon-3pm.
Does when you sleep make much of a difference?
Take a nap before the gym, you will notice it helps a lot. I started doing this since I’m doing smolov, its almost a must for me.
most people with busy work or school will only get like top 6 or so. Ronnie used to sleep with about 6 a night or less and it didn’t stop him. Sleep is more important when your young though for optimum growth-height- imo.
eating less then 2k calories is optimum to live as long as possible also, for a lifter you definitely need a little more sleep for optimum. Yet its not going to kill you to only get like 4-6 hours.
I found 7-8 is about right for me, but every now and then I find myself sleeping 10 hours naturally. I’ve been trying to let my biological clock manage my sleep lately and I’ve been getting about 8 “naturally.” If I have less than 7 for an extended time (like 5+ nights in a row) I feel like hell.
7 & a nap for me. Im usually in bed by 2200 & up at 0500. Have a snooze in the car at lunch.
I have a day job but bounce on Fri & Sat nights, so i usually get 5 hrs when i finish Sun morning (0600-1100) & 10 hrs Sunday night to catch up. i save my caffeine for when i need it (Friday nights, Sunday & Monday mornings)