One benefit I have not got.

[elfs]

I've been going to the gym now for three weeks, and I've been going without a personal trainer, so it's entirely possible I haven't been working as hard as I could. After three weeks, I am starting to see some changes in my arms, my chest, and my abs. There have been other advantages: since starting at the gym I have not had a soda. I'd like to claim that I've given up the 140 empty calories a day, but since I'm doing a protein bar before my workout and eating the same lunch afterward, there really hasn't been that much change. (On the other hand, I'm also not having the pop on days when I don't work out, so maybe that's helping.) I do feel better in a lot of ways.

But I'm not sleeping better. I wish I knew why. I'm still only getting maybe six uncomfortable hours a night, waking every ninety minutes (approximately one sleep cycle for me) and having trouble falling back to sleep. It's really annoying.

Comments

[pixel39.livejournal.com]

I have fibromyalgia, which among other things affects my ability to sleep. As a result, I've spent a lot of time examining my sleep and the various environmental influences on it.

Avoiding caffeine is a general good thing, as is not eating after a certain point so that your system isn't actively hiking your blood sugar level while you're trying to fall asleep. Also look at your sleep environment. Is there ambient noise that might be waking you up? Is the bed comfortable enough, with a good ambient temperature in the bedroom? Does the temperature stay constant, or are you waking up too cold or too warm? Is your mind quiet and relaxed as you fall asleep, or are you still thinking about the day? Are there things on your mind that come to the front when you're not actively thinking about other things, that you can't banish when it's time to sleep?

[kakoukorakos.livejournal.com]

I'm usually a very light, troubled sleeper. Physical fatigue doesn't generally do much either way in terms of sleep quality, though to some extent, I seem to sleep better if I've JUST exercised or done some yoga and I'm still just a little sore, go figure. I think firmness of my bedding material and a good, static sleeping position that takes no effort to maintain are some of the culprits, since I have negligible fat to allow me to "settle", I should probably soften the top of my futon up a bit with a down quilt or something. Temperature may also be a factor, one thing I always liked about waterbeds (don't have one now though) was that I could tweak the temperature in such a way that it was stable and in a range that kept me from either overheating or getting too cold.