Recovery Question

[Kevin T.]

Hey guys, i've been thinking about something. I only get 7 hours of sleep max from sunday-thursday thanks to school. This past weekend, i had a Confirmation Antioch retreat. It was the best experience of my life, but i barely got any sleep-maybe 5 hours a night for 3 nights. I was so drained that i got sick yesterday and was feeling below the weather today. It's a cough and congestion and stuff like that. I didn't have that much homework so i decided to skip baseball lifting today and go home, finish my homework and go to bed early. Now, i've been lifting 2x a week consistently since we started this program, only taking a week off about a month into the program when baseball finally ended and i was rehabbing some nagging injuries. My reasoning was that a good night's sleep would be more benefical than me half-assing it in the gym, which i probably would have done because i'm so beat. I was thinking about maybe doing some light stuff in a little bit and then hitting the hay. Maybe just some light benching, squats, deadlifts, and rows to get some blood flowing. What would you guys have done?

thanks [img]smile.gif[/img]

[K-Court]

Kevin, if I were you, I'd get more sleep. It's especially important for young, growing guys like you. I think the key points in your note were: "I was so drained that i got sick yesterday"; and "i was rehabbing some nagging injuries". In my view, your body is giving you the signals. All you have to do is listen. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Kevin T.]

K-Court-i am definitly going to try and get more sleep. I'll be hitting the hay around 8:30 tonight and will try and manage my time better in the future so i can go to bed earlier. I usually go to bed around 11 on a good night and am up at 6 to catch the bus. The nagging injuries were from baseball-some pulled muscles and ligaments.

I definitely can't wait till Christmas break 11 days off

[ninja]

Christmas break: 31 days off.

[K-Court]

Kevin, I'm in the same boat as you. I am a bit of a nightowl, rarely in bed before midnight, yet I have to be up at 6 for work during the week. I find that if I'm doing a heavy lifting program, I really do get drained and I wonder if MY nagging injuries would heal more quickly or be avoided if I got more sleep. Sleep is definitely undervalued and a hard-to-get commodity. I think all of us who train would do well to get more of it if we can.

(I have 7 more working days before a 2 1/2 week stretch of vacation/holidays .... very much looking forward to a few sleep-ins, which are now possible given my kids are a little older. [img]smile.gif[/img] )

[emartin10]

Kev - one missed workout isn't gunna kill ya. Get some rest, and get better. I'm sure with the end of the semester, you're under a bit of stress with school, so even more reason to get some sleep.

Try to make sleep a priority too. I plan my days (for the most part - life gets in the way sometimes) around going to bed to ensure I get 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Sleep is hugely important in your recovery from the gym. Get some rest and hit the gym tomorrow.

[Marykaa]

K-COURT said it just right ..

It's especially important for young, growing guys like you.

but I'd like to add.. REST is definately a part of the who fitness effort. REST is part of your "training". We hardly ever talk about it.. it's not as glamorous as Lifting or running.. but it is definately part of making you fit.

So don't think of it as "skipping training" but as doing something that is necessary to achieve your overall fitness goals.

also take into consideration that many more ACCIDENTS happen much more when we are tired.. a lack of attention for a second and you're forced to rest for days.. and a sprained ankle or twisted back.. is sometimes the body's way of telling us we've gone to far, we need to rest. but that is definately not what you want.

catch up on your sleep before you go too far. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Blackjack]

I agree with the comments above. I would say the best thing that I have done that has improved my health & well-being is committing to getting 8-hours of sleep at a minimum. It takes some work as I was a night-owl before, but just like working out you have to committ to it. Using school is an excuse. Last time I checked school didn't last until 11 at night and start at 6 a.m. Look at the amount of time you watch tv or do other unproductive activities. Like emartin said, plan your day around getting the right amount of sleep. You will be very suprised how much better you feel and how better your progress in the gym (& school) will go getting an adequate amount of sleep.

Don't make excuses, don't try...do! As yoda would say.

Ted

[K-Court]

Well said, Ted. This is definitely an area for improvement in my case. Thanks for the kick in the a$$.