[Beefcake]

Well, I've had insomnia for about 5 weeks, and nothing's been working. So last week my doctor gave me some meds but he said "No weights until you're done andI tell you it's safe to start again" Sucks major ass. So now I have to wait 3 weeks on these pills so that I can get a regular sleep pattern going on. So now I'm lost because I can't work out and because I can't sleep even though I want to.

[ibanezman06]

sorry man. it's only 3 weeks though. thank God it wasn't longer.

[moorey]

know how you feel, admire you if you can keep away from the gym that long, but i couldn't

[moorey]

what time do you train at night mate? do you use anything like ephedrine? Obviously training hits the seretonin levels and if late at night, in some people this leads to the body being unable to shut down due to the stimulas

[Sparky_dustin]

Well you might as well make the best of it and take this time to do a little reading about different training techniques, different diets, and even doing some research in the steroids section couldnt hurt because if you're going to do it later on then you better be educated on it.

[Beefcake]

Originally Posted by moorey

what time do you train at night mate? do you use anything like ephedrine? Obviously training hits the seretonin levels and if late at night, in some people this leads to the body being unable to shut down due to the stimulas

I usually train when I get home from work which is about 8 or 9 P.M. and on weekends anytime I feel like I need to go if it's not an off day. I don't take any supps besides oryx whey mixed in white grape juice, if that counts.

[Beefcake]

Originally Posted by Sparky_dustin

Well you might as well make the best of it and take this time to do a little reading about different training techniques, different diets, and even doing some research in the steroids section couldnt hurt because if you're going to do it later on then you better be educated on it.

That sounds like a plan mate. What I need to learn more about is more on cycles because I have basic knowlege about most steroids, but know very little about cycles. As far as training goes, I think I'll be trying DoggCrapp style for a bit. I mean after all, Dave Henry trains that way and is prob one of the best IFBB pros IMO, but is so often passed by because he's short. Where-as someone like myself, who's 6'4, should have no problem when it comes time to start competing.

[Beefcake]

But I find that I've had a very low tolerance for change in schedule so I'll have to "train" my self-restraint.

[compulut]

Can you train before work?

Training raises the heartrate, and training late, can impede sleep. But I would think that training at any time other than at night, would help with sleep. For me, it almost always has.

Did he say why you can't train?

[Beefcake]

Umm, it had something to do with the Vallium. It makes me light-headed and sick to my stomach.

[clarkag88]

I'd heed his warnings then. If you're light-headed and you go for a hard work out you're liable to pass out. Light-headed probably means it's thinning your blood.

[Freak]

Shut your tv/music/computer/lights off in your room. If it is from apnea you might look into a cpap machine. If it is from anxiety, stress, etc... find ways to unwind (read before bed with a night light) I recommend this because you get sleepy and your brain processes the info you read while you sleep. Also keep variety in your diet. In some cases it occurred because of eating the same food day in day out with no variety. Hope this helps.

[moorey]

Originally Posted by Beefcake

Umm, it had something to do with the Vallium. It makes me light-headed and sick to my stomach.

Hi beefcake, vallium is used mainly as an anti axiety treatment though it also used to assist with sleep. Why not request another medication where the side affects have lesser counter indications on your life. As others have uggested try to train earlier and remove any stimulus from your room such as a tv, replace with milky drinks which aid in sleep and try to redevelop your sleep patern, all the best , Moorey

[Beefcake]

Originally Posted by thefreak350

Shut your tv/music/computer/lights off in your room. If it is from apnea you might look into a cpap machine. If it is from anxiety, stress, etc... find ways to unwind (read before bed with a night light) I recommend this because you get sleepy and your brain processes the info you read while you sleep. Also keep variety in your diet. In some cases it occurred because of eating the same food day in day out with no variety. Hope this helps.

I usually don't keep anything in my room except my drawing desk and a painting that I did a few months ago. My room is a pastel-purple color, which was not my first choice, but helps in sleep sometimes because the light tones allow for greater relaxation due to the caliming color blend. The only things that are in my room are my bed, my desk, and a painting. I used to only be able to sleep with a sound machine going, but I broe the habit of it. What's a cpap machine though?

[Beefcake]

Originally Posted by moorey

Hi beefcake, vallium is used mainly as an anti axiety treatment though it also used to assist with sleep. Why not request another medication where the side affects have lesser counter indications on your life. As others have uggested try to train earlier and remove any stimulus from your room such as a tv, replace with milky drinks which aid in sleep and try to redevelop your sleep patern, all the best , Moorey

I had been on other, less abrasive meds presiously, but they were unsuccessful in aiding me in sleep. My doctor noticed that I had a little bit of acute paranoia and was a little tense when I was not on meds, so in an attempt of killing two birds with one stone, he suggested Vallium. While they cured my paranoia and anxiety, they havn't done anything in the way of sleep pattern. It's harder for me to work-out ant any other time besides when I come home from work or am on my way home. Being a telemarketer is a suprisingly stressful job because I have to deal with *******s all day, on the phone and in my office. So I use it as a way of blowing off steam. I generally do cardio in the way of bike riding the in morning on the track near my house at the park. I have a set time for this, but has not affected my sleep in the past. I'm not someone who needs a lot of sleep normally. I can usually wake up before my alarm goes off and have no problem getting up becase I feel rested. I'm not sure what the problem is. I've been doing everthing as I've done it for close to a year now. No real stress has been added to my life. It's like that house guest you can't get to leave.

[Freak]

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)

Do you mainly have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep? or both?

[Beefcake]

Both.

[lil_big_junior]

have a look into melatonin - google it & have a read...it worked well with me

[Beefcake]

My doc had me taking that before but it was giving me messed up dreams. I was taking arround 50mg of it. And he was like, "Well, we'll come back to it later when you start dreaming regular and have a regular sleep pattern." I went the first week when it started, and he had me on some basic drugs, but they weren't working.

[Freak]

Determine the major stressors/causes of anxiety in your life and make a to do list and clear them from your life.

[Beefcake]

Hmm, that's a good idea. I'll try that.

[Freak]

Why don't you go get another job? There are many jobs that you can find with less stress than telemarketing. There are usually simple answers to complex problems if you express it on paper and get multiple perspectives. When you put your thoughts on paper it is much easier to get the big idea. Comparatively when you have a few non-important things mixed with a few important and semi-important tasks they tend to all get mixed into one and you feel overwhelmed. Make a list and determine the best plan of action.


"98% of life is just showing up. Regardless of your fears, your doubts, your shortcomings and your insecurities; if you just show up, you'll see that things aren't as bad as you have made them in your mind."

[Beefcake]

I would get another job, but I work for my dad and the tattoo parlor only has me if they have a request, which is like, twice a week.

[lil_big_junior]

try accupuncture or hypnosis...i'm not taking the piss, I'M BEING SERIOUS. i'm not a councellor bro but everyone goes through tough breaks & turns. you just need to relax

[Beefcake]

Yeah, I'll look into that LBJ. I'm always willing to try new things if they'll help.

[lil_big_junior]

accupuncture worked well with me in various situations in order for me to relax...hypnosis worked well for me as it got me thinking about things in a new light. give them a go bro

[Beefcake]

I will. Thanks for all the suggestions guys I'll be sure to try them. I'll keep you guys posted.

[Beefcake]

Almost 1 week and some change left boys! My doc said that he might have to put me on some other meds to help me return to normal after the Valium.

[Kaboom]

I feel for ya bro.I have lived with it for the past 20 yrs.long time ago I resorted to smoking enough weed to get me to sleep but even that didnt work.I know its a bad choice but I was desperate.Every sleeping pill I have ever took made me sweat like hell.have crazy dreams and wake up with headaches.I tried sound machines and white noises.The best i have ever slept is while i was in China n the hotels.You could have the chinese music playing throughout the room.It wasnt just the music it was china.The whole place was just peaceful.I loved it.Of course my sleep wasnt perfect but at least i slept for 3-4 hrs.
The best advice I can give is when you go to bed dont think about getting to sleep.Just relax.My problem is my mind wont shut down.

[Beefcake]

I have a similar problem Kaboom, mine is more of a stress thing. Every doctor I go to has suggested the same thing: "Get more excersize (I ride my bike 2 1/2 miles everyday, so that's not it) and chew some Valarian root (which, by the way, tastes like a sweaty anus, assuming you guess what a sweaty anus tastes like)" For the record, I've been getting some sleep on the Valium, but not the ammount that the Doc said. He said a full 8 - 9 hours, but I'm getting 3 - 4 maybe. As for the accupuncture and white noises, I've had them both done recently, as per your suggestions, but the accupuncture didn't help and just made me more jumpy because my muscles had atrophied over the 2 or so weeks from no activity, so when they came to life again, I slept like 15 or so minutes. As for the noise machines and white noise makers, I had one from before that my girl friend gave me to help me sleep. It didn't help and just made me annoyed, mostly the frog sounds one. The river was okay, but it made me feel like I was going to piss the bed. Regarding the hypnosis, there are none in my area, not even the Romani lady from this one area couldn't do it. I made a list of all the stresses and such, but had no luck in sorting them out because they ultimately led to more problems and stresses. Like: Temperment lately leads to yelling or out burts at my loved ones and girlfriend, which leads to my girlfriend crying, which leads to me feeling guilty, which leads to more of a problem keeping my anger in check. I used to be in anger management years ago, so I use techniques to help me cope with these types of situations, but regardless, I still feel like I'm PMSing on everybody. I even told someone to shove it up their ass on the phone at my job, which would make me a bad telemarketer. I'm still hopeful that I can achieve my full nights sleep sooner rather than later.