Which is more important for growth/recovery: FOOD or REST?

[Madcow2]

At the extreme both are essential. That said, most people get at least a semi-acceptable sleep schedule so supplying a diet that supports growth is probably a more common problem. The bottom line is that if you don't supply an excess of calories and decent nutrient balance (nothing crazy is required for growth - just basic blocking and tackling) you will not grow. Obviously if you have some healthy BF levels, you might already have an excess built into your diet but for someone who is already fairly lean that's usually an indicator that their consumption will need to increase to support more muscle.

 

[mordy]

I think recovery time between workouts is more important a factor than exactly the number of meals and hours of sleep you get. As long as you keep your basic nutritional needs in line, get enough protein and EFAs, your body will take care of the rest with proper recovery.

 

[wnt2bBeast]

test is best

 

[Mithrandir]

8 hours is awesome, keep that, and eat food--I was hungry for the first time the other day, and I wanted to cry, literally. I hadn't felt hungry in WEEKS, like 3-4 weeks, I had been eating so much and so often that I never felt hungry...just eat man, and don't look back!

 

[Tom Treutlein]

Food is going to be better for growth. In a lot of ways, I could see sleeping being more beneficial for recovery, though. I think they're both vital for growth, or just for sustaining life regardless.

Depending on what I did during the day, I end up sleeping up to 10 hours at night. That's with no alarm clock, and my body decides to rise after that amount of time, so I trust it. I've heard before that you're better off sleeping until your body wakes you.

 

[Mithrandir]

i am have heard that too tom, but for most people that is unrealistic, I would love to never set my alarm and just wake up..maybe some day :/

 

[Tom Treutlein]

I'm enjoying that freedom right now. Come September, that joy comes to a screeching halt.

 

[roidpuple]

IT IS NOT HOW LONG YOU SLEEP!!! it is quality not quantity. The 8hr rule is a myth..
you body will adapt the most important part is just staying on a schedule.. that your body can get use to.

I have been on a 10hr sleep schedule .. 8hr and 5
the 5 was because that was the only time i could fit in a workout..
the 1st month or so i was a tired mo fo but my body bot use to it and that was the best i had ever felt.. i would go straight to sleep when it was time for bed.. and I did not wake up at all during the night... unlike always before... before i always had a hard time going to sleep.. then I had a hard time waking up..

this is because you body when sleeping longer doesn't go into as deep of a sleep...
so it is easyer to wake up... and the same when you are awake your body does not hit full awake ness... you need one extreme to get the other...

all the studies done on sleep .. are not done on people that have a regular schedule..
the average person has a fucked up sleep pattern... sleeping 5 hrs one night then 8 the next.. and then they do a study on them...

well to know for sure the studies have to be on people that have been on a 5 or 8 or what ever schedule for a while.. at least a couple of months..

I hope this helps... If you can get use to 5 hrs .. that is the way to go..
I was so made when i figured this out i was always thinking man I am tried i need more steep but ...no it was that i was sleeping to much..

 

[b fold the truth]

My body needs two things to recover and grow.

1) 9 hours of sleep a night
2) 6,000 kcals a day

If I train hard and intelligently...this will allow me to grow.

B True

 

[Tom Treutlein]

roidpurple, that's complete bullshit. Your body doesn't halt itself from going into as a deep a sleep cycle if you sleep longer. A typical cycle (stages one through four) of sleep lasts 90 minutes - 1.5 hours. It is best to sleep uninterrupted through a cycle. This means that, in general, you should wake a 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5, or 9.0 hours. It varies slightly, but in general, waking during a stage of sleep other than after the 4th will leave you feeling groggy.

The eight hour rule is no myth. Often, people need more sleep. It depends on their level of activity. There's no downside to eight hours of sleep. If one were to sleep 11+ hours or something, then I could see a problem. Other than that, you really have no case with what you're saying.

Also: http://www.nbaf.com/nbaf/oct7pge.html