Before and after

Before and after
Before...eating junk, no exercise and feeling terrible. After...eating "clean", weight training, cardio and feeling amazing 19 years later.

30 years ago I was in the path of an unhealthy future due to my poor food choices and no exercise. Eating Clean cleansed the inside of my body and I sculpted the outside with weight training. Now 48 years old, I'm in the best shape of my life. It's never too late to change your body and your life!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Sleep...Overrated?


Coffee has become my new best friend in the morning because I have a new love-hate relationship with sleep.  I love it when I get enough of it and appreciate it after I wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start a new day.  I can think clearly, I look better, and I’m ready to burn some new energy with my morning workout.  Most importantly, it puts me in a good mood!  Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen often enough.  
I hate the fact that our bodies HAVE to have sleep to function!  We physically have to shut our bodies down, go limp, and put ourselves into a coma just to recharge ourselves.  Not having it, or enough of it, causes me to be crabby, stressed out, unmotivated, crappy-looking, lifeless, lazy, and depressed!  I feel like I’m going insane without it.  For god’s sake, Michael Jackson is dead because he was just trying to get some freaking sleep!  
This past year has been a real struggle for me trying to get enough sleep.  For some reason, I can’t get a solid 7-8 hours because I’m wide awake every 2 hours!  It’s been exhausting and has caused me a lot of extra stress.  I’ve taken Ambien for a year and have been trying to wean myself off of it.  Not only did it quit working, but I think it's addicting!
If you can get sleep, get it.  Feel lucky that you CAN do it when you get the chance.  Sleep is NOT overrated...we need it, we want it, and our bodies and minds HAVE to have it.  Now go get some ZZZs!

6 comments:

  1. THIS IS VERY INTERESTING, SINCE I DELVED INTO MY 40'S MY SLEEP IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT NOW. I USED TO GET 8-9 HOURS EASY NOW I'M GOOD WITH 6. I HAVE BEEN TOLD PERI-MENOPAUSE MAY BE THE CAUSE OF THIS FOR ME. HAVE YOU LOOKED INTO THIS? AS FOR COFFEE, I QUIT COLD TURKEY 4 YEARS AGO. I WENT THROUGH WITHDRAWAL, HEADACHES AND FATIGUE FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS...IT WAS HARD AT FIRST BUT WELL WORTH IT IN THE END.

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  2. OMG...not the peri____ word! Lol...I really don't want to think about that, but that actually could be it. I never drink more that 2 cups of coffee in the morning and I actually can do without it. Since I only drink water the rest of the day and night, I can't imagine the caffeine being the issue, but who knows? I'll have to cut that out and see if it helps.
    Thanks. :)

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  3. Hi Gwen i'm sleeping great at the moment coz i've started a new diet and weights programme from an on-line trainer. i'm so tired from working/weight sessions at the end of the day i'm sleeping solidly for once (i was like you prevously) maybe you need to amp your workouts up for the next couple of weeks to get yourself exhausted before going to bed? just a suggestion - i know how bad/frustrated the whole non-sleeping cycle can be. hope you conquer it - i love your positive and motivating vibe from your blog and would miss it if you didnt post !!! cheers, amanda xxx

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  4. Hi new follower. I haven't slep much in almost the last 2 years. Have a 21 month old who has yet to consistently sleep thru the night

    On another note, you look fantastic!! Looking forward to following your blog

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  5. Thank you so much! I feel your pain, Susie! Too bad we can't just stay in that slap-happy state of mind and not feel the pain! Lol...

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  6. I totally understand. My mind keeps me awake and also the fact that I drink 3-4L of water makes me use the restroom all night. I try to stop drinking early, but I work out at 6pm so I need water after my workout. If I don't get 7 hours or more of sleep I'm no good... cranky, tired, depressed, worries, OCD, etc.

    Something that does work for me is Melatonin and Valerian Root Extract, both natural. A mix of the sometimes is better than just one or the other. You have to play around with it.

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