calorie cutting and sleep issues

[born2dothis]

has anyone here ever found that when cutting calories in order to burn fat that you have trouble sleeping at night?

let me rephrase that...i wake up, hungry....and i can't go back to sleep until I eat.
Is that normal and what should I do in order not to screw myself up when that happens?

[hieronymous]

Yeah, it sucks. Even when I am not in a deficit my sleep gets affected by hunger. I try to eat a lot before I go to bed so I can sleep through.

[terracotta]

Yes, which is why I always planned it so that the end of my day was a bit calorie heavy. But I also weight trained at night, so it lined up good.

[critterbug]

I have always noticed that I sleep less on low calories and recently I read that a major cause of this is increase in cortisol, which causes your brain to be more active, almost hypervigilant. Makes sense to me. The other thing I've read is that you actually need slightly less sleep, which makes sense on the one hand - your body has less to 'deal with' - but not a lot of sense on the other - you have less 'energy.'

[born2dothis]

I have always noticed that I sleep less on low calories and recently I read that a major cause of this is increase in cortisol, which causes your brain to be more active, almost hypervigilant. Makes sense to me. The other thing I've read is that you actually need slightly less sleep, which makes sense on the one hand - your body has less to 'deal with' - but not a lot of sense on the other - you have less 'energy.'

that makes sense.

increase in cortisol...from stress? too much inhibits fat loss am I right?

[KimPossible98]

This may be a dumb question (or maybe not) but are you taking any caffeine or drinking coffee before you go to bed? Anything like that that would disrupt your sleep?

[critterbug]

increase in cortisol...from stress? too much inhibits fat loss am I right?

It is supposed to inhibit fat loss. Nonetheless, we have to be in a deficit to lose. So... where do you go with that?

(Warning - Confession coming) I used to just starve myself... which strangely enough made me practically manic. I'm sure it was my body's reaction to stress. I lost the most and lost the fastest during those times. Not an endorsement, just a fact. Based on personal experience only, I'd say calorie deficit is more powerful in fat loss than cortisol is at inhibiting it. ;) So I don't worry about cortisol.

[born2dothis]

This may be a dumb question (or maybe not) but are you taking any caffeine or drinking coffee before you go to bed? Anything like that that would disrupt your sleep?

I am very very caffiene sensative actually but I'm aware of it so i rarely if ever have any caffiene after say 1pm each day and usualy only in the mornings (for example one time I took one of those 5 hour power shots and was up all.night.long. LOL never again!! But that is a good point.




It is supposed to inhibit fat loss. Nonetheless, we have to be in a deficit to lose. So... where do you go with that?

(Warning - Confession coming) I used to just starve myself... which strangely enough made me practically manic. I'm sure it was my body's reaction to stress. I lost the most and lost the fastest during those times. Not an endorsement, just a fact. Based on personal experience only, I'd say calorie deficit is more powerful in fat loss than cortisol is at inhibiting it. ;) So I don't worry about cortisol.

yeah this is somewhat what I'm thinking myself. This is what is so hard for me too,...I tend to eat too much, I eat healthy all day but caloric wise its too much and the second half of my cycle is SERIOUSLY the worst time (like now lol). I'm going to try and really focus more on that for sure. I know when I eat plenty of raw veggies and drink my water properly its not as bad, but I def struggle with too many calories.
I need to figure out how many I should be comsuming each day really...just have not had the time to do so.

[born2dothis]

This may be a dumb question (or maybe not) but are you taking any caffeine or drinking coffee before you go to bed? Anything like that that would disrupt your sleep?

i see your in Michigan, where at?
I'm in monroe :)

[ecstaticpathway]

I am glad you posted this! I have the same problem!!! seriously, even with my sleeping pills, I wake up with hunger in the middle of the night.... I am having a little heavier dinner tonight and will see what happens.. good luck!