In the summer, the light wakes me up, so it's no problem, but if I want to run 20 miles on Saturday mornings, I have to wake up before the sun.
Over the holidays, my friend recommended I try melatonin before bed to see if that helps and it is a freaking miracle. I conk out almost as soon as I'm in bed (when I take a pill 90 minutes before bed) and then sleep through the night and wake up feeling amazing.
This morning, I woke up so early that I made scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast for the both of us. Apparently, getting a good amount of sleep also makes me a great housewife.
The only downside of taking melatonin is my insanely vivid dreams. Almost every morning I wake up feeling like I've gone insane because of some dream I've had. I had to text my sister last weekend to make sure she was alive after I dreamed she died on a mission trip to South America.
So far my training has been going well, so I'm thinking that the melatonin is helping. At this point, I'll take whatever I can get to help me get through this training...legally.
What are your secrets to success for running or working out during the winter?
Huh, I might need to look into this. I am the same way in the winter but when there's more light, completely the opposite and I have no problem with getting up and out of bed.
ReplyDeleteI need to give Harrison melatonin so he sleeps through the night! haha I wish.
ReplyDeleteI started taking that too because I could not sleep before races or long runs because I'm afraid I won't wake up. Then instead, I'm just cranky as heck when I do because I didn't sleep. I don't take it a lot because I'm afraid it will mess up my regular melatonin production. ??? Does it? I don't really know.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get this stuff? It sounds great. I've been having super creepy vivid dreams anyway so I might as well benefit from good sleep!
ReplyDeleteI have no problems in Winter with exercise or working but our Winters are not extreme. It's Summer that floors me. It's hard to eat, hard to sleep and exercise can only be done in the wee small hours of the morning.
ReplyDeleteI think the Caveman takes melatonin. He doesn't enjoy the results you got though. I don't have any secrets. I'm just up at 5am no matter what.
ReplyDeleteNo secrets to share, but I've been having insanely vivid dreams, too, which I'm told is common during pregnancy. I have bizarre dreams normally and now they've been turned up a notch and are just freaky.
ReplyDeleteMeth. That's my secret.
ReplyDeleteI would be careful with melatonin, if you are taking it too much your body will stop making it naturally since its a regulated hormone, leading to dependency. Just a something to watch. -Karlee
ReplyDeleteI seem to remember you having weird-o dreams any way. Maybe I should try that.
ReplyDeleteWinter training is tough! Last year I entered a marathon to make sure I got the miles in. This winter, I started doing hot yoga, so at least I can get warm during my workout.
ReplyDelete