How much sleep do we need?

[blueboy]

I am 43yo, i workout at least three times a week, 45 minutes cardio and 45 minutes WT. Always seem to feel sleepy, but i only get about 5 or 6 hours sleep a night cos of my work, but i only drive for a living, its not hard work. Reason for this post is, as we are now over 40, to keep the fat off, do we have to slow down on the cardio? and do more weights?

[HDJoe]

Originally Posted by blueboy

I am 43yo, i workout at least three times a week, 45 minutes cardio and 45 minutes WT. Always seem to feel sleepy, but i only get about 5 or 6 hours sleep a night cos of my work, but i only drive for a living, its not hard work. Reason for this post is, as we are now over 40, to keep the fat off, do we have to slow down on the cardio? and do more weights?

No need to slow down on the cardio. you should be doing a combination of weights and cardio. Have you checked your diet? Your work out and sleep patterns are not outside the norm.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by blueboy

I am 43yo, i workout at least three times a week, 45 minutes cardio and 45 minutes WT. Always seem to feel sleepy, but i only get about 5 or 6 hours sleep a night cos of my work, but i only drive for a living, its not hard work. Reason for this post is, as we are now over 40, to keep the fat off, do we have to slow down on the cardio? and do more weights?

The ideal senario is 7-8 hours of sleep per night, but as we age we tend to get less sleep due to our daily routine, and then get used to that amount of sleep. Remember that the more calories you burn off per day, the more calories you have to put in, the amount of calories is dependant on your goal. Have you used the site calculator for obtaining a calculation of calorie expenditure ..?

[blueboy]

Hi Doug, Joe

i have been a member of WLR for years now and that works out all the calorie needs, you put in what you have eaten and it dose all the hard work for you. Its says i need 2404 to maintain my weight of 14st.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by blueboy

Hi Doug, Joe

i have been a member of WLR for years now and that works out all the calorie needs, you put in what you have eaten and it dose all the hard work for you. Its says i need 2404 to maintain my weight of 14st.

Does the WLR calculation account for your training expended calories as well as your normal BMR...

[blueboy]

Originally Posted by Doug

Does the WLR calculation account for your training expended calories as well as your normal BMR...

Yes it dose, i have been using it for years, you have to pay for it but for me it works. I was 26St and that site helped me lose well over 12st.

i dont know if the link will work but this is the site
http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/lostart.htm

Now i want to put muscle back on without the fat, and this is proving to be a lot harder that just losing weight. I found losing the weight easy, but i have lost all muscle aswell as fat, hence me coming onto this site.

[kawika67]

most underrated part of training I think is the sleep at night! I try to sleep 8-10 hours a night!

i used to sleep less and found that I didnt have the energy to train my 5 day split. Now with the sleep I have more energy!

Some people say wow I dont have the time to sleep. Im too busy!

I find that bs. Whats wrong is that their priorities are wrong. Just dont watch so much tv. Or try to get some errands done earlier. Dont go out so late with friends. Do your activities during the day!

I try to sleep at 8 or 9pm and I wake at 5 or so in the morning. Try it for a week and Im pretty sure you will be happy with the energy!

[5kgLifter]

Originally Posted by kawika67

most underrated part of training I think is the sleep at night! I try to sleep 8-10 hours a night!

i used to sleep less and found that I didnt have the energy to train my 5 day split. Now with the sleep I have more energy!

Some people say wow I dont have the time to sleep. Im too busy!

I find that bs. Whats wrong is that their priorities are wrong. Just dont watch so much tv. Or try to get some errands done earlier. Dont go out so late with friends. Do your activities during the day!

I try to sleep at 8 or 9pm and I wake at 5 or so in the morning. Try it for a week and Im pretty sure you will be happy with the energy!

I agree people need as much sleep as their bodies require, since we're all different, and I'm one of those that needs lots of sleep...otherwise my body makes me pay for it...and yes some people should switch of the TV and get rest instead...but for some people it is not BS that they do not have the time...I once taught a student who came direct from work, did 2 hours study, drove home at 9pm, and needed to be up at 4am for work again, and he always looked exhausted...even at times having his evening meal for his breakfast the following day...anyone who has the time in this day and age to get the required amount of sleep should consider themselves lucky...but don't judge everyone else as getting their priorities wrong.

[oakbark]

I have survived on little sleep for days on end due to certain working situations. I have also gone with periods of 5-6 hours sleep for days and weeks on end. Yes you can survive, get by, do the job even in pressure situations without sleep BUT even though you can it is not the optimum situation to be in and I find that health and body wise getting the extra sleep is beneficial. With repeated days of less sleep I find that your more susceptible to colds and especially the dreadeed man flu. You have less energy, don't train as well, the body doesn't recover from little niggles as well and just doesn't function as well as with a good nights sleep every night.

So no, I don't believe you need 8 hours sleep a night, but yes, if you get it you'll feel much better, be healthier and train and gain better from workouts.

And yeah I appreciate that some people in tough environments may struggle to get the required sleep, I know some working mums who work nights who can get very little sleep often.

But I also agree that there are a lot of people who dont get the required sleep for many other self inflicted reasons. When I have to work with some clown whose knackered cause he been on the town, watching TV, playing WoW half the night and is next to useless I find my patience wearing a little thin. FOrtunately we have a few good solutions for those people...

[kawika67]

agreed! I am thankful that I am able to get the rest I need since I dont have kids and alot of commitments. I have tailored my life to suit weightlifting and have been impressed by the results. I hope everyone can get the chance to get healthy and start a better life with weightlifting! aloha guys for all the advice on here! Keep working hard! sleep well hahah!