How important is sleep?

[Puddles]

How much sleep do we need? How does sleep affect our goals?

I was recently reading an article where it said that our sleep affects our natural hormone production and it's important for loosing fat. I'm sure some of you have some statistics or some real info. on this.

 

[PBR]

sleep

PUDDLES- I thought you were the "all-knowing" ????Well for starters, the military says very little....MMMM???? new age says very little, nutrtionists say we have cycles that we must go thru every day and that those cycles are based on" light" itself....we exist (our-bodies) respond to light/darkness....this I do know to be true....However, you are going to make me research this arent you???? DAMN......thought provoking.....

 

[Ceebs]

I was recently reading an article where it said that our sleep affects our natural hormone production and it's important for loosing fat. I'm sure some of you have some statistics or some real info. on this.

I'm not sure about the fat loss or hormone production angles, but there's a certain "recharging" of the mental batteries and resynthesis of essential neurotransmitters that can only occur in deep sleep.

I actually look forward to sleep now, when I can get it. I look at it as turning my mind off and taking a vacation from my body.

 

[lucidblue]

I have not slept well at all in the past month or so. I can definitely tell that my workouts have suffered, along with my overall mental focus.

 

[from zero]

Sleep is arguably the most important thing you should do when training.

 

[SteelWeaver]

I agree, and I wish I could get more of it. I have a sneaking suspicion that I would improve a lot faster with more sleep.

I believe growth hormone is released during sleep, and have even read bits & pieces here and there that someting as short as a 30 minute nap in the afternoon can induce GH release, amongst other beneficial mental and physiological effects.

Sleep as much as you can and take naps in the afternoon whenever possible.

 

[nikkita]

>How much sleep do we need?
Between 8 and 10 hours, but you will find how much you need according to your training and other activities.

>How does sleep affect our goals?
Lack of sleep sure affect goals, either you are in cutting or bulking or just maintaining... you can not progress if you don't have sleep time in check.

 

[macrophage69alpha]

sleep= extremely important

 

[wilson6]

No doubt. Everyone I have ever spoken with that takes training seriously, any type of physical training will tell you that sleep is very important and the lack of it, will impair performance.

8 hours minimum if you're training hard, but few of us get that.

W6

 

[spatts]

I'm useless on less than 8 hours.


...and I usually want a nap around 3:30 or 4:00 PM, as well.