Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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So I've cleaned up my eating, I would assume I am at least 80% Paleo now probably more..but I'll be humble here. I'm attempting to get my 8 hours of sleep at night, but good lord. My body has so much energy now. I lay in bed last night at 12:00am, wanting to go outside and do some sprints. :) I know this is a good thing, but Is causing me to get less then 8 hours of snooze time.

I'm not eating close to bed, not working out close to bed time. Just normal activity...my body just wants to keep running.

What to do?

edited Aug 27 2010 at 17:12

Stephen-Aegis
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asked Aug 27 2010 at 12:26

Jason
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Why not uh run sprints ? – Chris Aug 27 2010 at 16:28

good idea wonder what the wife would think :) – Jason Aug 27 2010 at 19:38

Harlow · Answer 1 · 2010-08-27 14:20:14Z UTC

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Try supplementing with Magnesium before you go to sleep. I use natural Calm.

Also, I second the thought of no TV before trying to sleep, as well as blocking out light in your room.

A great read that is full of info and tips is "Lights out: Sleep, Sugar and Survival"

answered Aug 27 2010 at 14:20

Harlow
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	I agree........ – Stephen-Aegis Aug 27 2010 at 14:47
	All great advice. Also try moving carb consumption to earlier in the day... I had an ear of corn (yeah yeah, not paleo, but local and goooood) with dinner the other day and I think it's what gave me sleep trouble (rare for me) later that night. – John R Aug 27 2010 at 16:54

JakeA · Answer 2 · 2010-08-27 13:54:58Z UTC

You might want to try going to sleep earlier, blocking out light in your room, and winding down with no TV or games an hour before bed. I have also found that starting new and very intense exercise regimes makes it hard going to sleep.

familygrokumentarian · Answer 3 · 2010-08-27 14:06:39Z UTC

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First instinct: do your hard workouts harder (as early in the day as possible), and do more, longer low level activity.

Maybe sit on a yoga ball all day long like Dwight Schrute in The Office. ;) (kidding)

OR have a couple of kids...sure to use up spare energy. :-p (also kidding)

edited Aug 27 2010 at 14:06

answered Aug 27 2010 at 13:54

familygrokumentarian
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Well I've already got to kids. :) 4 and 18 months. Maybe to I need some more sun only getting in about 5-10 minutes a day. Always inside at my desk! – Jason Aug 27 2010 at 14:23

Stephen-Aegis · Answer 4 · 2010-08-27 17:19:39Z UTC

When I feel "safe" urges, I do them. My body telling me to "play" is Great.

Hey Stephen, go climb that tree

Hey Stephen, leap over those trash cans

Hey Stephen, sprint to the end of the block at top speed

I only feel better after following these urges!

Embrace it. Life is Great!

As for sleep, lights out is well worth reading.

I go out in the sun as early in the day as I can to get the urges out.

Eva · Answer 5 · 2010-08-28 04:04:04Z UTC

Why do you assume you need eight hours of sleep? Not everyone needs that much and many people find they need less sleep once they go paleo. Eight hours is just a guideline. What they really mean is be sure you get sufficient sleep so that you are well rested. For many that is about 8 hours but for some it may be more and for some it may be less. I have known plenty of people who were well rested on 6 hours. It's not the average but it's not all that unusual either. Sleep needs also may vary from day to day. If you are alert in the morning and all day and do not feel sleepy, then you are getting plenty of sleep. You will simply need to find more hobbies to keep you occupied during your increased numbers of awake hours! -Eva

Mike Jones · Answer 6 · 2010-08-27 18:02:31Z UTC

You are probably eating too much protein at dinner. Protein consumption triggers hormones and neurotransmitters that promote alertness; carbohydrate consumption triggers hormones and neurotransmitters that promote relaxation. Therefore, it may help to eat your larger servings of protein at breakfast and lunch and eat a greater proportion of carbs at dinner. The only time I have trouble falling asleep is when I over-rely on protein to fill me at night.

Anyone else have “too much” energy now?

6 Answers