Hello CT,
my HRV app + Apple Watch track my HRV several times a day and usually once per night during sleep at 3-8 a.m. I am a type 2A actor if you need to know.
Normally, the app shows that I should rest more. Even if I sleep long or good or had a chill day. This looks as following:
Yesterday, I was agitated in the evening and took some 5-HTP, 0.1 mg of melatonin and when I still couldn’t sleep, I took 5 g glycine and 5 mg Zolpidem (I did this for maybe the second time ever, normally don’t use Z substances at all). For the first time, since December, my HRV showed very good results this morning:
So apparently, when I increase my GABA activity and my serotonin and activate glycine receptors, I actually can get normal resting measurements. That was a little surprise.
My sister on the other hand always has perfect measurements. She lives a very unhealthy life style while I don’t, I think. She’s insanely strong for a girl (competition level) and recovers way better from training than I do. We have a similar temperament but I think she might be more a type 1A since she’s often even more fearless and explosive in temperament than I am. IIRC these types have naturally more GABA activity.
The question is, what would you advise for better recovery and what definitely to avoid to log in more positive measurements in the long run? Benzos and similar are obviously not a solution, GABA does not do anything for me. Any recommendations? I thought of meditation but I have real trouble with it, it annoys me greatly.
I train 3 days per week currently with a focus on bodybuilding work and only 2 heavy exercises per week. Diet is a very slight deficit. Private + work stress is pretty high, but that does not seem to impact the measurements. Feeling not optimal but decent most days. Weighing 196 lbs at 12-15% BF at 6 foot depending on measurement method.