Lifting weights with insomnia

**Kentucky Fried Chokin** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 11:27am

My gym has been closed and I haven't been able to train and it's driving me crazy. If I don't train, I don't sleep. For example, I just spent the last nine hours staring at my ceiling. All I've been able to do is lift weights, but is it even worth if I can only sleep every other night? What are the hormonal effects of losing every other night? I read the other three threads on insomnia in the PT forum and none of them addressed this issue.

**Stew** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 11:50am

Have you tried upping your cardio or conditioning work? There are also several very mild over the counter sleep aids. Have you tried any of them. I had a friend who would have to go to sleep incredibly early to assist in surgery in the mornings and she swore by simply sleep.

**Kentucky Fried Chokin** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 11:56am

I'm thinking of switching to more cardio, since weight lifting isn't helping me get to sleep, but my main form of cardio is rolling in class, but because of the holidays that's not really possible. I have a melatonin addiction, and take a lot of valerian. What is 'simply sleep'?

**Stew** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 1:00pm

Simply Sleep is a very very mild sleep aid. Its non addictive and available at most pharmacies. You say you are addicted to melotonin. Are you taking a melotonin supplement? I can feel your pain on this. I usually sleep ok at night, but unless I've put in a hard workout it takes me a while to fall asleep. Usually at least 30 or 45 minutes.

**Kentucky Fried Chokin** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 1:11pm

By melatonin adiction, I mean I've taken everynight for the last three years. On a good night (one where I fall asleep) it takes me 90 minutes to get asleep. When I was uninjured, training hard twice a day, and taking 'Explosive Endurance' everyday, I was getting to sleep in 30 to 45 minutes (ahh, good times).

But right now, I'm going to consult with my doctor to see about fixing my insomnia. Until then, should I be lifting?

**Stew** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 1:38pm

I'm sorry, but my google fu is failing me. I did find an article that claims insomnia is prevelant in athletes, particularly athletes in high impact sports. I'd post the link, but I'm posting from my Blackjack. I can tell you that I'm a better safe than sorry kind of guy. In the long run it won't hurt to put off the lifting until after seeing your physician.

**TheRuss** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 2:29pm

Originally Posted by Kentucky Fried Chokin

All I've been able to do is lift weights, but is it even worth if I can only sleep every other night?

I may be misunderstanding your problem, but it sounds to me like you've got two choices...

1) Lift weights and sleep every other night.
2) Don't lift weights and sleep every other night.

In terms of whether it's "worth it", if those are your two choices, my vote goes with "probably not".

Think of your condition as a camera balanced on a tripod. The legs of the tripod are rest, diet, and training. If you kick out one leg of the tripod (in your case, rest), it doesn't matter how long the other two are, the camera's hitting the ground.

Originally Posted by Kentucky Fried Chokin

What are the hormonal effects of losing every other night? I read the other three threads on insomnia in the PT forum and none of them addressed this issue.

In seven subjects, a plasma GH peak (13-72 mμg/ml) lasting 1.5-3.5 hr appeared with the onset of deep sleep. Smaller GH peaks (6-14 mμg/ml) occasionally appeared during subsequent deep sleep phases. Peak GH secretion was delayed if the onset of sleep was delayed.

-Takahashi et al., "Growth hormone secretion during sleep"

Originally Posted by Kentucky Fried Chokin

By melatonin adiction, I mean I've taken everynight for the last three years.

In terms of fixing one's sleep schedule, you may want to change up your melatonin regimen a bit...
1) Take it several hours before your desired bedtime (Slate recommended five hours)
2) Take it sublingually (let it dissolve under your tongue)

... but I'd say you're a bit beyond that point now. Hopefully your doctor can refer you to a sleep lab and help you figure out what's going on.

**Kentucky Fried Chokin** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 2:31pm

Correct as always, Russ.

**TheRuss** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 2:35pm

I feel like such a hypocrite every time I tell someone to go see a doctor. I've been putting off literally half a dozen specialists for a while now out of sheer inertia (dentist, optometrist, audiologist, GP, podiatrist, and a physio who actually knows what they're doing).

Bollocks.

**Kentucky Fried Chokin** · Posted On: 12/23/2008 2:37pm

I was actually just going to write him an email and try to convince him to perscribe something without actually seeing me. I just dropped cash to see him about my injuries (fucking kanooks and your free healthcare).