Real World Situation #1 - Eat or Sleep

[massarmor]

ok, lets say you get home from work. You're tired and it's getting late. You still have quite a few more calories you need to get in but you have to wake up on time in the morning. You need at least two more meals. You also haven't taken nearly enough protein for today.

What do you think would be best to do? Eat or Sleep?

If you choose to eat, then you will get that needed protein and calories for bulking but will probably only get about 5 hours of sleep.

If you sleep, then you miss out on your eating goals for the day.

 

[Rodja]

How long does it take to drink some milk and have some eggs? Eat these before you go to bed and your protein requirements are fulfilled.

 

[jmh80]

I'd say protein shake.

But - if I'm forced to choose - then sleep.

 

[rysigpi]

You should be able to take down a protein shake, maybe some fat free cottage cheese, and a couple tbsp of pb if so you desire in less than 10 min.

An easy 50g of protein and 400 calories.

 

[football76]

You should be able to take down a protein shake, maybe some fat free cottage cheese, and a couple tbsp of pb if so you desire in less than 10 min.

An easy 50g of protein and 400 calories.

there you go, i dont see why you would lose that much sleep in doing this..

 

[CROWLER]

Protein shake and a serving of Healthy Cheat Foods cold Pancakes MRP in the car on the way home from work (about 900 calories) stacked with some REM from USP Labs and you are good to go


CROWLER

 

[TheUnlikelyToad]

Protein shake and a serving of Healthy Cheat Foods cold Pancakes MRP in the car on the way home from work (about 900 calories) stacked with some REM from USP Labs and you are good to go


CROWLER

Haha... I gotta try some of that P-Cake mix.

 

[Moyer]

ok, lets say you get home from work. You're tired and it's getting late. You still have quite a few more calories you need to get in but you have to wake up on time in the morning. You need at least two more meals. You also haven't taken nearly enough protein for today.

What do you think would be best to do? Eat or Sleep?

If you choose to eat, then you will get that needed protein and calories for bulking but will probably only get about 5 hours of sleep.

If you sleep, then you miss out on your eating goals for the day.

The goal should be to not end up in a situation like that.

I'd probably chug some milk and pass out if I was that tired. If I had more time, a little peanut butter, cheese, bread, fruit, whatever is quick.

 

[Dr Liftalot]

Smoke a bowl, EAT EAT EAT EAT, Pass out. REPEAT ;-)

 

[Irish_Rogue]

5 hrs is more than enough sleep, you more than likely lost out on some rest typing the questions whilst you should have been eating.

 

[f18jock]

Takes 5 minutes to wolf down a half a tub of cottage cheese, eat a tablespoon or two af peanut butter and a cup of milk and your all set.

 

[Skigazzi]

Worst case, slam down some milk...better case, slam down some milk and peanut butter....

But to play along...Id eat, and skimp on sleep for that ONE night...I'll have plenty of time to sleep when Im dead.:twisted:

 

[WannaBeHulk]

in a hypothetical situation where you have to choose to eat or sleep, id say sleep. 1 day of a reduced calorie intake wont make any difference with strength or size. these goals are accomplished over long time periods.

edit: haha, just realized this thread was old

 

[warnerve]

luckily, i've never had to face this decision

http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-disorders/archives/parasomnias_sleepeating.htm

 

[MentalTwitch]

There's beenplenty of times i don't sleep till 1:30 2 and wake up at 7-8. Sometimes i come home at 11-11:30, Change, eat shake,carbs(bulk), fruit, water, PB, and hit the sack. This is not hard to handle at all. I have woken up after 5 hours feeling tired and other times ready for the world. I have noticed even on minimal sleep, after my shake, and breakfast i feel swoll.

 

[bishop17]

Is 5 hours enough sleep??

 

[BigCasino]

Is 5 hours enough sleep??

Not for me it isn't! I need 8 hours, otherwise my strength is off, and so is my focus. If you are one of the people who can run 100% on fewer hours, consider yourself lucky!


Also,

there are many times where I come home late and I need to sleep but I need more cals too.... I just down a few glasses of nonfat milk !

 

[b unit]

mix a shake & sleep, look to eat more during your waking hours and use some Abyss by Nimbus Nutrition to aid in a better quality sleep

cheers

 

[workin2005]

mix a shake & sleep, look to eat more during your waking hours and use some Abyss by Nimbus Nutrition to aid in a better quality sleep

cheers

A protein shake, a few caps of ABYSS and head for bed...sounds like my protocol every night!

If you have to choose one, pick sleep...1 day of not getting your desired calorie/Protein intake won't do much harm but throwing off your sleep schedule and not giving your body a chance to recover (which is exactly what's happening during REM sleep) can IMHO.

Workin

 

[thewilman]

How long does it take to drink some milk and have some eggs? Eat these before you go to bed and your protein requirements are fulfilled.

Agreed. Eat then sleep...unless your concern is going to bed right after eating. In which case, if you are bulking, that's a good thing!

 

[CaponeCEO]

Nothing worse then sleeping and feeling that terrible rumbling in your stomach...knowing that your body is eating all your gains for that day

But like everyone has said this situation isnt a common one and you could easily get some protein intake in before bed.

I personally don't think that 5 hours is enough sleep..but it also depends on how quick you obtain REM's which is when Protein Synthesis will occur.

 

[SteelEntity]

Muscles can grow during rest though can't they? Not nearly as effective as a deep sleep but taking mid day naps can be beneficial I think.

As for the sleeping, would it not just take longer to recover if you only slept 6 hours a night instead of 8. Is it possible to lose the chance of potential gains if you sleep ****ty or would it just take a longer time to recover. Because either way the body will recover regardless of ones lifestyle. The amount of time taken though will differ.

 

[SteelEntity]

Ronnie Coleman sleeps 5 hours a night...even before he got into roids. It's all he needs.

 

[CaponeCEO]

Ronnie Coleman sleeps 5 hours a night...even before he got into roids. It's all he needs.

Probably with some GHB...

Your muscles can recover at rest, but you are much more inclined to move them at rest, even subconsciously..which defeats the actual "rest" principal. When you hit your REM's your body is in a deep sleep without movement (other then your eyes) and thats when your body truly repairs. Power naps as we love in this world are great because your body is usually so exhausted from external stimulus, maybe even not resting well the night before, that you hit REM's. Granted it is short lived becuase it goes against your bodies natural clock...but they dam* sure are good. From everything that I have read not sleeping will really screw up your gains because remember good sleep is 1/3 of the equation. Getting crappy sleep at night might screw them up really bad because resting at other times means you are more inclined to move muscles and not truly rest them. The body building triangle is Workout Routine, Nutrition, and Sleep...all equally important so you can see how proportionate it really is.

 

[b unit]

everyone is different, same need less and some need more, it can also can depend on the type of activities than are undertaken during ones waking hours IMHO

 

[AZZA]

This is easy i just have my shake, ON WHEY with 2 whole eggs amd 300 ml of lactose free low fat milk. Then i sleep.
AZZA

 

[workin2005]

everyone is different, same need less and some need more, it can also can depend on the type of activities than are undertaken during ones waking hours IMHO

That about sums it up.

Workin

 

[SMOKEPALADIN]

Ronnie Coleman sleeps 5 hours a night...even before he got into roids. It's all he needs.

I like many others here do not have Ronnie Colemans genetics, and I find it hard to believe that he only gets 5 hours when he is in his mass phase. I think getting 5 hours of sleep is selling yourself short, not only just for mass gains, but also overall health. Good sleep habits will help relieve stress, fatigue, rest your CNS, aid detoxification and keep your immunity system strong.

Also like others said, just gulp down some milk and PB or Cot Ch, should only take 5 min for a quick meal.

 

[b unit]

That about sums it up.

Workin

thanks man

 

[SteelEntity]

I like many others here do not have Ronnie Colemans genetics, and I find it hard to believe that he only gets 5 hours when he is in his mass phase. I think getting 5 hours of sleep is selling yourself short, not only just for mass gains, but also overall health. Good sleep habits will help relieve stress, fatigue, rest your CNS, aid detoxification and keep your immunity system strong.

Also like others said, just gulp down some milk and PB or Cot Ch, should only take 5 min for a quick meal.

One of his vids he says clearly that he only needs about 5 hours sleep and that he has been like that his whole life.

 

[b unit]

One of his vids he says clearly that he only needs about 5 hours sleep and that he has been like that his whole life.

he also attributes his muscle growth to BSN supplements

 

[CaponeCEO]

One of his vids he says clearly that he only needs about 5 hours sleep and that he has been like that his whole life.

Just be weary of what Pro body builders say in videos and magazines because if they sold thier real truths and secrets to the public and more importantly competetors then other would emulate them....and possible take thier titles. I have heard that all those magazine/videos that the Pro's write are not truly thier work out routines or thier diets, or thier habits...just to throw off competetors.

 

[SteelEntity]

What possible benefit would Coleman get out of bull****ting about how much sleep he gets? Common. Obviously BBs try to promote there sponsors products but I give Coleman credit, the dude didn't jump on the muscle ****...oops sry - tech bandwagon. Muscle tech is **** imo. I think BSN puts out some great stuff. I love syntha-6 for my bed time shake.

 

[neoborn]

I'd say protein shake.

But - if I'm forced to choose - then sleep.

:goodpost:

 

[Aggravated]

both IMO. I usually eat right before I go to bed, but I am bulking atm.

 

[shortstop1616]

sleep.... missing one meal before you go to bed for one night will not affect you as much as the loss of sleep and muscle recovery time

 

[dsw222]

i bought a few cases of RTDs containing a casein/whey blend for when i'm too tired to make my normal pre-sleep shake (60g milk protein isolate, 20g carbs from a scoop of TrueMass)

Pop the top, and chug. Takes 30 seconds at max, and is probably about the same price as a tub of cottage cheese.

 

[bLacKjAck.]

First whoever said that 5 hrs is plenty of sleep...thats complete BS.

Second, I think missing daily eating goals DEF isn't ideal,but if it comes down to it --- messing up a sleeping schedule can potentially mess up the rest of your week. The LEAST you could do though is throw a few scoops of protein in a cup and mix with water and chug, takes me about 30 seconds...

 

[RenegadeRows]

Eat then sleep.

With our microwaves and protein powders, eating shouldnt take very long at all.

Welcome to 2007

 

[SteelEntity]

I sip protein isolate throughout the night when bulking. Usually I wake up twice a night so I may take in 30g of protein each time I wake.

 

[scott72]

A protein shake, a few caps of ABYSS and head for bed...sounds like my protocol every night!

If you have to choose one, pick sleep...1 day of not getting your desired calorie/Protein intake won't do much harm but throwing off your sleep schedule and not giving your body a chance to recover (which is exactly what's happening during REM sleep) can IMHO.

Workin

Doesn't Abyss have to be taken on an empty stomach? See the problem I have is taking the Abyss, waiting 30 mins or so for it to absorb, then eating. Takes a lot of time so sometimes I just eat and crash because I'm so tired.

 

[lilGiant]

BOTH! Hit a shake and set the alarm to eat again 2 hrs. later!!

 

[kabuki]

5 hrs is flat out crazy! i can't function at anything less than 8hrs...and still play a bit of catch up on weekends. Closer to 9 hrs seems to be the ticket for me.

There are so many quick options that can be done. you just have to be prepared. i guess this is something that just aggravates me when i hear excusses for missed meals from some of the guys i work with. Just plan, and also prepare backups for when all else falls through:whip:

 

[bigrabbit]

a quick 5-10 mins of eating something and a shake shouldnt be too costly at least u have a good intake before going to sleep that way u wont loose the gains u made that day as mentioned...

 

[shaddow]

I can't sleep if I'm hungry. No way. Hunger will cause me to toss and turn and roll around uncomfortably for way longer than it would take me to prepare and eat a meal. I mean, what are we talking about, 20 minutes? Compared to tossing and turning for even longer. F- that. It's a no-brainer for me. Gimme some FOOD, dammit.

 

[B5150]

I don't know if it is mentioned in here by anyone but I will.

Be careful laying down to sleep with a full stomach of food. Things like GERD and Acid reflux begin slowly and don't necessarily happen all at once. Laying down, especially face down, to sleep on a full stomach stress the connection between the esophagus and the stomach - there is a biological word for that but it slips my mind right now. But the point is the pressure on the stomach forces the food back up esophagus gets weaker at that point as time goes by.

I know many don't realize this, or if they do, don't think of it as being a problem....yet. Asphyxiation from GERD is not pleasant and can be fatal.

 

[WILL DA BEAST]

First whoever said that 5 hrs is plenty of sleep...thats complete BS.

Second, I think missing daily eating goals DEF isn't ideal,but if it comes down to it --- messing up a sleeping schedule can potentially mess up the rest of your week. The LEAST you could do though is throw a few scoops of protein in a cup and mix with water and chug, takes me about 30 seconds...

what he said:thumbsup:

 

[Shatter]

Forgetting about what is beneficial as far as gym recovery goes, I need my 8-10 hours of sleep just to feel good in general. I'm sure I could have good gains from less but I certainly don't believe I would be hitting my gym sessions with less vigor.

 

[bigzach1234]

i agree with the above poster^^ completeley..well put
quick question tho... i know alot of ppl wake up in the night to drink protein shakes and it is recommended.. but someone said they set their alarm every 2 hours.. isnt this interfereing with your REM sleep? it seems as though it would be conunterproductive and by waking up youre interupting sleep/muscle repair process.. is this not the case is there a best time to wake up and chug a shake.. everythree hours? or should i just wait till the morning as i feel waking up would interupt my sleep significantly

 

[Zero V]

I go with sleep myself.... Since i can run off of 4-5 hours of sleep like its nothing, I know getting more will be better. And my body holds its own. But a protein shake, or some cottage cheese, is not too hard to pull off in 5 mins....