How much sleep do you get?

[anti-bonk]

I know sleep is a very important part of bodybuilding. I also understand that it is often an overlooked aspect as well. I was watching a show on tv last night (While I was doing sit-ups of course) and it was discussing how sleep is necessary to rebuild your body.

Like many others, I really don't think I get enough sleep. My normal routine is during the week I get about 5 1/2 to 6 hours a night, and maybe mid-day I will close my eyes for a few minutes on my lunch break. Then on weekends I will get about 7 to 8 hours. I want to organize my time better so I can get more sleep.

But I'm curious how important it is to others. Alot of people on this board are very disciplined with other aspects of bodybuilding. Do you consider yourself disciplined with how much sleep you get?

[rpaul11]

about 7-8 hours

[snoack]

about 7-8 hours. Like to do cardio in the morning, so I get up extra early to do that. Also had to readjust my schedule to accomodate taking the train to work.

I really can't sleep more then 8 hours at a stretch, no matter how hard I try.

[ed819]

I work 2nd shift and w/o in the AM. I find it more difficult to w/o when I get less than 6 hrs sleep. I have been trying to get 7 to 8 hrs a night for a few weeks now and have been successful this week but I'm on vacation and hanging out at home.

IMO enough sleep is one of the key factors in life and it reflects in everything you do.

[snoack]

Originally Posted by ed819

I work 2nd shift and w/o in the AM. I find it more difficult to w/o when I get less than 6 hrs sleep. I have been trying to get 7 to 8 hrs a night for a few weeks now and have been successful this week but I'm on vacation and hanging out at home.

IMO enough sleep is one of the key factors in life and it reflects in everything you do.

do you take melatonin? If not try it, it helps a lot and it's natural.

[Odin1970]

Originally Posted by anti-bonk

But I'm curious how important it is to others. Alot of people on this board are very disciplined with other aspects of bodybuilding. Do you consider yourself disciplined with how much sleep you get?

I have posted multiple times on these boards about the ugly step child of bodybuilding success, and thats sleep. You will find literally hundreds of articles on nutrition and training but far fewer on rest.

Mainly because its such an individual thing, we all have different things going on. I attempt to get 7 hours a night and I monitor it with a sleep journal. Real simple, when you get up in the morning record when you went to bed, when you think you fell asleep and when you woke up.

Its a small amount of effort and with it you can tie it back into days you trained and days you didnt, avarage per week etc, I highly reccommend it.

[taf1968]

I'm usually around 6 hours . . . get up at 4:30am to go work out. Usually in bed betwen 10 & 11pm.

[Bo_Flecks]

Before our little one arrived 8 weeks ago, I was averaging 8 hours of sleep per night. Now it is more like 6 hours of interrupted sleep. I try to take a short nap two or three times a week to catch up a little. I was concerned that less sleep would affect my workouts, but I haven't noticed any strength or intensity decreases.

[Guinness42]

I usually only get about 6 hours each day on the weekdays. Not nearly enough.

[ProfBush]

I went for years on 5 1/2 hours sleep. Since I have been working out regularly, I routinely get 7-7 1/2 hours. Rarely, after an especially hard workout, I will sleep 8.

I fall deeply asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow. My problem is staying asleep in the morning.

[doofusdave]

I average about 6 hours a night, but I've been combating insomnia a few nights this week, so only got about 3 hours on those nights.

[crazycelt]

Usually 6-7 hrs/night. A little more on Sundays.

[WeebleNoMore]

Originally Posted by snoack

about 7-8 hours. Like to do cardio in the morning, so I get up extra early to do that. Also had to readjust my schedule to accomodate taking the train to work.

I really can't sleep more then 8 hours at a stretch, no matter how hard I try.

This about sums it up for me. I also take meltaonin and recommend it for those that have trouble falling asleep...

[atoybbacs]

7 to 8 hr.

[illriginalized]

8-10 Hours... it really helps with gains. I used to sleep 6-8 hours and felt as if I was stressing myself. Now I get a good 8-10 hours and I wake up refreshed to the max!

[IdahoViking]

4-5, if I'm lucky.

[mikieson]

How much sleep do I get?...LOL....WEll for about the last 5 years..About 2-3hrs a night and not good sleep either.

BUT, we just went last week and bought a new HUGE KING sized bed with the pillow top and its awesome. Im sleeping a little better now.

Our old bed was a hand-me-down and was as hard as sleeping on pavement and it was a full size bed.

We have bought our first bed and we've been married for 15 years..lol

[Alex_RC]

Between 6-7 hours on the weekedays (in the gym at 5:30 asleep around ~11:30)
I get a bit more sleep on the weekends

[FFOGG]

Like many others, I really don't think I get enough sleep. My normal routine is during the week I get about 5 1/2 to 6 hours a night, and maybe mid-day I will close my eyes for a few minutes on my lunch break. Exactly my situation ...

Trying to get more in but w/ work ...I teach ...and coach ...

I get up at 5:00 to train everyday sometimes its really hard to get up

[anti-bonk]

Originally Posted by Odin1970

I have posted multiple times on these boards about the ugly step child of bodybuilding success, and thats sleep. You will find literally hundreds of articles on nutrition and training but far fewer on rest.

That's one of the reasons I asked the question. On occassion you will find mention on the importance of taking rest days, or see articles like the one on the main page which discuss not over-training. With all the people who are serious about diet and workouts I'm curious if the sleep thing is as big an issue for serious bodybuilders. I think a large percentage of people probably don't get the sleep they need, and for individuals who are really pushing their bodies probably need more down time as a result to recuperate.

[Stevelegh]

Depends on my feral kids.

They go to bed at the right times pretty much, but wake up in the night and I often sit watching the Simpsons movie at 4am.

I wish they'd sleep through. I'd actually start getting up at 6am to workout.

As it stands, whenever I've planned this, they've got up before me.

[sluge]

i have to get at least 7. I shot for 8. I get up at 3am out of the house at 3:30am. Friday and saturday, bout 5.

[IDZ]

I try to get 7 hours, but I work overnights and sleep during the day so with this recent heat wave, I haven't been able to sleep as much

[BergMuscle]

About 7 hours on weekdays when school is in session. That gets closer to 8 during the summer and during school break periods.
I often get 8+, sometimes around 9, on weekends, plus I often pull a quick nap on Saturday afternoons.

[Reid147]

I love my sleep 7-8

[Wayne Evans]

Oh boy....my BB nemisis.

Only about 6 hours for me and it's not enough for me to feel rested.
The military screwed that up for me a long time ago and I hate this left-over from those days.

The weekends is where I don't get up until after the sun rises.

A great to everyone.

[Tallgntlmn]

Most weeks about 6 1/2 hours. This week, about 8 hours each night. I started getting a sore throat and figured sleep could not hurt. I'm just pissed I missed the ballgame last night. I thought at halftime that LA had it in the bag.

[Bando]

I get between 6 - 7. I try to make it up with a nap on the weekend but as we know that doesn't really work.

[Odin1970]

60 minutes had a thing about sleep last night. Didnt pertain to body building but it did attempt to link lack of sleep to all sorts of ailments (mostly psychological).

If its on the web somewhere go have a look, it was pretty good.

[johnnyironboard]

In bed by 9:30 and up at 4:30.