Hey guys, I always hear people say 8+ hours of sleep every 24 hour period is what your body needs to grow... and I believe it. But does this mean going to bed at a reasonable time and waking up at an early time energized and ready to go?

Because my sleep schedule is often going to bed at 1:30-2:00am, and waking up at 11:30am-ish. Now when I do this, I usually dont feel as "energized" throughout the rest of the day, even though I still got my 8 hours of sleep.

Is there a difference between the two?

i'm the same way, i work until 1a.m. get home around 1:30 and fall asleep between 2 and 2:30...i wake up at 1030 a.m.....always get 8 hours and i feel exhausted when i get up and not refreshed, last friday i actually stayed up until 6a.m. with a female...she had me back up at 11a.m. and i felt way better for most of the day until i crashed for alittle that night before we went out again...i don't understand sleep, u need it to grow but the more u get doesn't mean u'll feel better

Not all sleep is the same. Getting to REM sleep varies upon the person, which is why some people only need 4-5 hours. There are a myriad of factors that go into this and the best thing to say is to find what works for you. Cliche, I know, but it's true.

the trick will be getting your sleep pattern consistent. If you went to bed that time and got up that time every day, it would work out over a bit of time. Takes a few weeks probably

I dont really understand it either. Even when im on a regular schedual i feel exhausted in the morning and through the afternoon then at night im energetic and ready to do something. I hate it

Getting 8 hours doesn't mean your going to feel like the energizer bunny all day. Especially if your a bodybuilder.

Since your putting your body through physical rigors everyday, the sleep is just a part of the equation to equal out your training.

Make sure your getting proper vitamins and dietary needs throughout the day as well.

And coffee is good too

my sleeping pattern is terrible. I'd really like some solid answers on this too.

Try some ZMA, you will have deep REM sleep guaranteed, most of the time I only get 6 hours of sleep and If I take this before bed I fell great the next day, if I don't i am tired

Originally Posted by BoyFromAus

my sleeping pattern is terrible. I'd really like some solid answers on this too.

By pattern do you mean quality or going to sleep at the same time each day?

ive been asking myself the same ? i work grave 10pm to 6am got to bed at 8am wake up at 4pm then start day going to gym before work i get all 8 hours but i feel damm tired at work. I think its nature saying go to sleep everything goes to shut down mode at night so even if u get enuf sleep night hours are made to recover. been doing this for years know. i just keep consistant sleep pattern even on days off

Originally Posted by Rodja

By pattern do you mean quality or going to sleep at the same time each day?

I have huge issues with this as well. I work shift work so in a month I work 7 night shifts and 7 day shifts (12 hour shifts). they are all jumbled around so i have no such thing as going to sleep at the same time every day. what kind of effects would this have on gains?

Originally Posted by Spooly

ive been asking myself the same ? i work grave 10pm to 6am got to bed at 8am wake up at 4pm then start day going to gym before work i get all 8 hours but i feel damm tired at work. I think its nature saying go to sleep everything goes to shut down mode at night so even if u get enuf sleep night hours are made to recover. been doing this for years know. i just keep consistant sleep pattern even on days off

I'm in the same boat as you, sometimes I get a lot more sleep than 8 hours to make up for the crappy sleep. With winter coming and it getting darker sooner I workout after work then go to sleep to get some sleep while its dark out

for me, sleep by 11, up at 8 everyday. take my ZMA and wake up energized and i dont get tired at all throughout the day. REM is very important in order to reach a full, deep sleep so ur body can produce hormones. ZMA allows this process to happen every night u take it. it also depends on what kind of activity u do at work combined with the gym, some ppl may need more sleep, and my more sleep i mean more deep, quality sleep. although too much sleep can make u tired also. for me, 8 to 10 hours a night is perfect, especially if my room is freezing. keeps me asleep

Originally Posted by Rodja

By pattern do you mean quality or going to sleep at the same time each day?

good point.... i mean quality of sleep.. Well it has improved, but I jus can't sleep for 8 hours. If I go to bed at 9:00pm, I fall asleep at about 9:30pm and then wake up at roughly 4:00am and can not sleep after that.. my brain just wont switch to sleep mode again. From 4 onwards, I just feel more active and more active.

At the moment, i'm using Activate Xtreme 2 caps, and ZMA prior to bed. I used to use Powerfull before but for some reason on that, i'd wake up at 2am every morning and need to piss, and then couldn't get back to sleep.

Yeah...I have 7am class and on the days I get about 5-6 hours I feel better than 8+. Very odd.

I would say that 8 hours of sleep at night is the best.

can you take ZMA while on Epi??

must remember that the body is geared to sleep when its dark and wake when is daylight, hormonally speaking that is...

thnaks to lights and tv's and **** we dont do that, i never strated growing till i sleep 9-11 hrs a night. probably due to lack of food but it worked for me bed at 10pm-up at 8amish

Originally Posted by JN230

must remember that the body is geared to sleep when its dark and wake when is daylight, hormonally speaking that is...

thnaks to lights and tv's and **** we dont do that, i never strated growing till i sleep 9-11 hrs a night. probably due to lack of food but it worked for me bed at 10pm-up at 8amish

That's amazing though. I wish I went to bed at 10pm. I never end up going to bed till midnight.