Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness

I was only able to get about 5 hours sleep last night and I have a heavy chest workout today. I slept great all week but had a bad night last night. Typically I will just tough through and then catch up sleep in the following nights. You all think this is OK? It is interesting though that even after little sleep, I can still be very strong in the gym.

-Rich

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What do I do when not bodybuilding or working? Spend time with family, play guitar, write music, snowboard, roast coffee, travel, read, fight for those who are less fortunate than myself.

I rarely sleep more than 5 or 6 hours. It is individual thing. I worry sometimes about not getting enough sleep, and I really envy people who are able to sleep for 8 or 10 hours. I have all the time in the world for sleeping (i do not work), but I simply can not stay in bed after 5 or 6 hours of sleep. I perform in gym very well, though.

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My progress pics: http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=21924
My training diary: http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=22216

I get used to it - I need around 7 horurs but often get only 6 or less, and I really feel it towards the end of the week.

Tired when you get up, and the rest of the day is a battle to get through.

Still lift/run though, and usually quite effectively despite lack of rest and recovery as I get used to it. Some workouts I am drained before I start but just get on with it.

There was some research on sleep published only last week, and 6hrs was seen as the critical point -

'Researchers find 'unequivocal' link between lack of sleep and increased risk of premature death' - http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/ ... ture-death

'If you sleep less than six hours per night and have disturbed sleep, you stand a 48 percent greater chance of developing or dying from heart disease' - http://www.news-medical.net/news/201102 ... Study.aspx

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... ttack.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healt ... early.html

However this is a more measured review of the new research - http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/02February/ ... -risk.aspx

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Davey's favourite tipple was "Blow My Skull", a cocktail he served in half-pint glasses consisting of rum, brandy, gin, port, Madeira, sherry and claret.

If I'm feeling short on sleep or just sluggish or tired to try to get some carbs in me right away before the workout. I eat fruit before and evening during my workouts when I'm feeling a bit tired. I also use energy drinks, pre-workout drinks, and just mentally prepare myself to give me that extra push to make it through even if I'm a little tired.

Then I do my best to catch up on rest.

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Check out my Vegan Bodybuilding & Fitness Book on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Bodybuildin ... 497&sr=1-1

In Ayurveda, they say it is essential to go to sleep by 10:00 PM in order to be in harmony with natures rhythm's.

I've heard that the liver performs an essential cleansing function at 11:00 PM and you need to be asleep for this to take place properly.

Also I have heard that sufficient sleep is required for balanced testosterone and growth hormone levels.

Plus one should wake up naturally without a jarring alarm clock.

Personally, I find I need at least 7 to 8 hours sleep and I wake up with a iPod/iPhone app called Relax Alarm Clock which gradually increases the volume of a relaxing guitar sound.

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Reality Based Training = HardGainer.com

In my experience, you won't be able to lift heavy. You could do a lighter workout with more reps, to just activate the muscles and keep the blood flowing. And you'll be glad you did it:)

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Into the fire with your soul!

Agree that it's an individual thing, but if I HAVE to lift, then I take lots of coffee before the workout. Otherwise, I just rest.

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bodybuilding, fitness and other tips

5 hours of sleep is plenty - don't worry about that. Well let menrephrase that - if you usually sleep like 7-8 hours and you got 5 one night - don't worry a bit about it. It's not a big deal, it's not even a little deal. Even if you got 5 hours of sleep everynight you'd be fine. Butif you arefeeling sluggish turn up the head phones and eat a powerbar or snickers bar before working out (snickers only if you are not on a strict diet and don't need to cut any weight).

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No Nonsense Muscle Building
Fat Burning Furnace

Are there vegan snickers bars in the US?

I wish....


I kind of get the impression fatburningfurnace isn't vegan from other threads, but maybe I'm wrong.

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vegan for the win!

Yep!

http://store.veganessentials.com/vegan-candy-bars-by-go-max-go-foods-p2646.aspx
The Jokerz bar is basically a vegan Snickers, about 95% spot-on! Trust me, I've eaten enough of them to know

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"A 'hardgainer' is merely someone who hasn't bothered to try enough different training methods to learn what is actually right for their own damned body." - anonymous

It seems wishes do come true sometimes :

Damn, they do look tasty ! One of those days I will have to put in an order for some of those...


Let's hope you are wrong in this case .

I really want to try those Go Max Go bars! I am just too cheap to buy them. Maybe next time I place an order at veganessentials.com I'll toss one in my cart.

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vegan for the win!

When I ate at my healthiest (almost thrive diet) I knocked a clean hour off my sleep because I was getting better quality sleep, so I don't buy into this "you need at least X hours amount of sleep or..". I could sleep great for 7 hours or way less and wake up feeling amazing and be more energised throughout the whole day than before.

If I just undersleep for one day it'll rarely effect workout (usually end up getting a better one), but if my sleep gets messed up for 2 or 3 days in a row then it can start to cause problems - hasn't happened in a while though.

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My training log

It's funny this topic came up because I'm sitting here not knowing if I should go to the gym or not. I got about an hour or sleep last night and feel a little nauseous from it (part of that being I drank for the first time in like a year for st pattys day) - and when I imagine working out right now I don't see myself getting much done...

But usually I try to work through it, today I don't think I'm going to be able to. I think you just have to use your own judgement bc only you know how you feel.

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No Nonsense Muscle Building
Fat Burning Furnace