sleep or working out

L

lulu68

Cathlete
Hello,

For the longest time I have been getting up at 2am to start working out between 3-3:30am 6 days a week avaraging about 4 1/2 hours of sleep. I run a home daycare business with some of the kids showing at my door step around 5:45a.m. My question is what is more important getting enough sleep or exercise? I'm begining to feel overwhelm and concern about my health. I'm a mother of five very active boy's who play soccer and between practices and having to spend over 8 hours at soccer fields its somewhat overwhelming. I feel I have no other time in the day to do my workouts since we are constantly taking and picking up the boys from practice. I currently average about 2 hours of working out 6 days a week. Any ideas how I could cut my workout and still get a good workout? Thanks!
 
Wow, that is overwhelming!!!

Sleep is your body's way of restoring your body. It is ESSENTIAL!! Sleep deprivation is very unhealthy. I think you need more sleep. If you are not getting enough you are probably doing more harm than good. Exercising is important and and healthy, if your body can repair and restore and reap the benefits of it. Otherwise you are just wearing yourself down more.

Maybe you could carve out a little time later in the day. Or skip a day or two. This schedule would run anyone into the ground.

Are you eating well?? Have you been very stressed??? How long are your workouts?? Can you do premixes???

I hope others have some ideas?

ellie
 
I would try a shorter more intense workout, and bring it to 4-5 days a week. You are obviously under stress, and exercise stresses the body. I admire your ability to be that committed, but exercise is supposed to be a positive, healthy thing in your life that works for you. If it is becoming overwhelming and stressful, it may be time to back off. We tend to feel guilty when we do this if we are hardcore exercisers, but we need to listen to our bodies and do what's right for us at the time. Think of it this way - lack of sleep and stress will mean body fat gain over time, whereas the right amount of sleep, healthy amounts of exercise and less stress will mean a healthier, well-balanced woman able to handle whatever comes her way.
 
Sleep is more important. It's when your body heals itself. You age faster without enough sleep - you are going to burn yourself out. Exercise is also very important. Do you work out 2 hours each of those 6 days? I think 1 hour 5 days a week is plenty - especially if you're sacrificing your much needed sleep to do it!

Could you possible jog while the boys are at practice? I think Cathe would tell you that you're headed for disaster with that schedule.

morningstar said:
Think of it this way - lack of sleep and stress will mean body fat gain over time, whereas the right amount of sleep, healthy amounts of exercise and less stress will mean a healthier, well-balanced woman able to handle whatever comes her way.
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This is an excellent point - my daughter's friend's mother (ha - I could've said "my friend" eh?) was over the other day and has started Weight Watchers. She is AMAZED to see that by eating more and getting more sleep, she is losing weight. Go figure.
 
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lulu68 said:
Hello,

For the longest time I have been getting up at 2am to start working out between 3-3:30am 6 days a week avaraging about 4 1/2 hours of sleep. I run a home daycare business with some of the kids showing at my door step around 5:45a.m. My question is what is more important getting enough sleep or exercise? I'm begining to feel overwhelm and concern about my health. I'm a mother of five very active boy's who play soccer and between practices and having to spend over 8 hours at soccer fields its somewhat overwhelming. I feel I have no other time in the day to do my workouts since we are constantly taking and picking up the boys from practice. I currently average about 2 hours of working out 6 days a week. Any ideas how I could cut my workout and still get a good workout? Thanks!
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Oh heavens you sound liike an injury and/or burnout waiting to happen!

My thoughts......

First: Exam WHY you feel 2 hrs is a necessary amount of time to workout
45-60 minutes is PLENTY - ya just up your intensity and or weight loads...You wont be able to go 2 hrs! .... IF you are training for a distance/endurance event I can see it but even marathon training is only ONE long run a week.... Less is more when it comes to your body (if the "less" is of course @ 100% you can give that day)

Second: What are your fitness goals? Are you preparing for an event? Do you want to gain strength? Define your goals and THEN make a 5-6 day a week 45-60 minute plan. Sometimes when we are not focused on a particular goal we just "keep working out" and those sessions can go on forever!

Get some sleep!!! I am a 46 year old sleep deprived woman and I can tell you I look and feel alot older than I am. Mine is hormonal & being worked out now but its taken its toll over the years.... SLEEP is the fountain of youth.
 
morningstar said:
I would try a shorter more intense workout, and bring it to 4-5 days a week. You are obviously under stress, and exercise stresses the body.
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ITA
Exercise breaks down the body (it's actually 'controlled damage") and unless you get enough recovery (including sleep and adequate nutrition) you are in the long run doing yourself more harm than good.

A shorter workout program (like CLX, which has weight workouts that are only about 30 minutes long, or maybe some premixes on Cathe's workouts) would be better). Or find a different time to workout.

You mentioned that "we"' take the kids to and from practice. Maybe DH could take them sometimes, leaving you time to workout (three days a week, for example).
 
It's too bad that you have to choose, but sleep wins. It is NOT something to sacrifice. Try everyone else's suggestions for shorter workouts and carving out some other time. You'll be amazed how good you will feel when you get some real sleep. Good luck!

Amy
 
lulu68 said:
I currently average about 2 hours of working out 6 days a week. Any ideas how I could cut my workout and still get a good workout? Thanks!
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Okay...you workout 2 hours per day, 6 days a week, on 4 1/2 hours of sleep. Correct?

My dear, your body and brain are going to punish you severely for this!! Seriously, more is not necessarily better.

There are lots of ways to work out smarter and harder in less time. Kathryn mentioned CLX, kettlebells will leave you fried in under an hour, P90X and P90X+ are all under an hour...hell, I've done 20 minute CrossFit workouts that left me crying for mommy and spent for the day.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY! Now go take a nap!! ;)
 
I would work-out during soccer practice. Work-out in the evening when the day-care kids are gone. When the weather is nice enough, take the day-care kids outside and make a game of exercising. It is not formal exercise, but running, playing tag, walking squats(it will make them giggle), being active with them all will be exercise.

I would NOT get up at 2 am and try to survive on 4.5 hours of sleep per night.
 
SLEEP!!! You could incorporate fitness into your daycare program, for sure. I don't know if you got STS, but the workouts are only an hour each. That's first. Second - check out the partnered ab section of the Abs DVD. Obviously, you can't use an 8 pound medicine ball with the kids, but you could get weightless balls, or little one or two pound balls. Have the kids partner up (you included) and do these excercises with them. The kids will love it and you'll get exercise in. As others have stated, consider your goals, as well. Perhaps you do your "full on" workouts four days a week. The other days, incorporate shorter bursts of activity - with the kids, at soccer practice, etc. Studies have proven it can be just as effective, if you make the time meaningful. Get some sleep, woman!!
 
Wow. I'm getting tired just reading this. I ITA with everyone. Sleep is more important. If you must work out that early. Cut it down some. You could even go 3-4 days for 45-60 minutes and not see much of a difference compared to what you're doing now. I see serious burnout and injuries in your future.

I do admire your dedication though. I wish I had just a fraction of that.
 
Wow, that is tough call. Sleep is vital and without sleep, your workouts will not be as effective.

I cut way back on my workout time. I refuse to work out more than one hour per day, six days per week.

I did do Muscle Max last night which lasts 72 minutes, but that is the exception and not the rule.
 
I don't completely understand something here.

Your post says you get up at 2am to start your work out from 3-3:30. Why are you up at 2am? I'm not sure why you need to wake-up 1hr before your w/o starts.

Also, if your 1st child does not show up until 5:45 why not get up at 4:30 and you could get an hour w/o in no problem.

Also, could you w/o when you have your kids there? What time do they start arriving and yours start waking up? I'm wondering if there is an opportunity to wo even between 6-7am?
 
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Lourdes, why are you working out 2 hours a day?? That is insane. :eek: You can definitely cut that back to one hour. Even 45 minutes 6 days a week is sufficient.
 
sleep or exercise

MommaPew said:
I don't completely understand something here.

Your post says you get up at 2am to start your work out from 3-3:30. Why are you up at 2am? I'm not sure why you need to wake-up 1hr before your w/o starts.

Also, if your 1st child does not show up until 5:45 why not get up at 4:30 and you could get an hour w/o in no problem.

Also, could you w/o when you have your kids there? What time do they start arriving and yours start waking up? I'm wondering if there is an opportunity to wo even between 6-7am?
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Hi Debbie,

I'm embarrase to say I'm back to my old habbits doing cardio everyday! I love the results I was getting doing weights 3 times a week and cardio 3 times a week, but when winter came around and I put on my jeans I look thick and chunky, I'm petite 5 feet and I was feeling somewhat muscular. During the summer it wasn't a problem because I would love showing off my muscular legs but my legs underneath the jeans I didn't like to much. Yes I try getting up later, but seriously my house is a jungle I have 5 young boys the house requires lots of attention, laundry never ending story, my home is my business I need to make sure it's presentable when parents arrive. The weekends use to be my relax days but lately the boys have been doing tournaments every weekend and with four boys playing soccer avaraging between 2-3 games each day that's alot of time spend at soccer fields. Now that the weather is changing I will try to get up later and see if it works, but I need at least one hour to drink my coffee, do laundry, clean up, make lunch for hubby, and relax before I start working out. I'ts good to hear from you!

Lourdes
 
MommaPew said:
I don't completely understand something here.

Your post says you get up at 2am to start your work out from 3-3:30. Why are you up at 2am? I'm not sure why you need to wake-up 1hr before your w/o starts.

Also, if your 1st child does not show up until 5:45 why not get up at 4:30 and you could get an hour w/o in no problem.

Also, could you w/o when you have your kids there? What time do they start arriving and yours start waking up? I'm wondering if there is an opportunity to wo even between 6-7am?
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Hi,
I need that hour before my workout to enjoy my coffee and toast, put a load in the washer, clean up, make lunch for my husband etc... I have 5 young boys we leave a crazy busy life. Thank you for your input! I will try waking up bit later, if it means not having my coffee and toast than thats what it means.
 
YIKES!!!! I used to be like that but I finally got help from a Dr. and she prescribed ambien. I have terrible insomnia. I take it on days when I know my body need uninterrupted sleep. You would be surprised how wonderful you will feel when you give your body the rest it needs.
 
By the way. I'd listen to Debbie, . . she gave me the same advice and she was totally right! I'm also 5 feet tall and muscular. I've just learned how to eat clean and work out smarter not harder. Trust me your body will thank you for it.
 
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