Week 3: Sleep 7-8 Hours

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We’re on to week 3, guys! Now that we’ve jump started our exercise, everyone should be feeling pretty good! How did the high intensity workouts go? I usually have a hard time finding creative workouts if I can’t get to a gym or out to run. But, I kept up on my Piit28 workouts for the past several weeks and have felt so strong! Then I started feeling sick. It’s like one thing after another over here! But this week things are back to normal and I’m looking forward to doing all the challenges simultaneously: no sweets, HIIT workouts aaaand…. SLEEP!

WEEK THREE CHALLENGE

Sleep 7-8 hours

I am THE worst at this lately. I feel like I can never really truly relax until my kids are in bed. That means that if everyone isn’t down until 8:30 or 9, then they’re not asleep until after 9 or 9:30 and then I’m up until 11:30 or 12 sewing, cleaning, getting projects done or just zoning out in front of the TV.

If I don’t get that time to myself, I become a very cranky individual. In fact, Luke can tell you about a fit or two I’ve thrown when he wants us to go to bed early and I’m not done “relaxing” 🙂

Don’t you wish you could sleep this soundly every night??

Not getting enough sleep really takes its toll on you. I should know! Did you know that your mattress could be stopping you from getting the sleep you need?! If it’s over 8 years old, then you should really replace it – and there are helpful guides out there like this Sleepify Best Mattress to help you pick the best mattress for you and your sleep needs. Also, when exercising regularly, your body needs adequate rest in order to build muscle. You might think that running yourself ragged would burn more calories but instead you just get burnt out and end up sick. I also know this from personal experience 🙂 The fact is, adults actually need less sleep as they age…but most active adults still need about 7 hours a night (I need closer to 8!). When’s the last time we all got that regularly??

My personal goal is to get to bed by 10:30 pm. That way I can get a good 8 hours and still be up before the kids. I know not everyone needs as much sleep as I do, but more sleep can never hurt a tired overworked mom! Also, make sure that you have AT LEAST one full hour of good sleep before midnight…going to bed at 1am and waking at 8am doesn’t count! My mom always told me that the hours of sleep you get before midnight are twice as good for you as those you get after. Not sure if there’s scientific evidence behind the oil or mum but both sounds like good advice to me!

This is going to be a challenge that might not yield immediate weight loss results but keep it up and you’ll be happier, have more energy and, most importantly, have more will-power to keep up with the other challenges.

Now, off to bed with you!!

This way to week 4!

Photograph by Lindsey Joslin