Endorphins??

[KnottedYet]

Can you ride the trainer in the morning instead? Go to bed earlier, wake up earlier, but sleep better?

[sbctwin]

I tend to like early morning exercise rather than evening/after work stuff. I go to bed early so that I can get up early. I find when I ride in the evening, I am very restless. Right now I have to the trainer, but I still get up early. I thought about riding the trainer at night to get more time in, but I know it disrupts my sleep.

[LBTC]

Do you do have a relaxation routine that you do before bed and/or after exercise?

Some things that might work:

stretch well and thoroughly after your ride
have a relaxing hot bath before bed
self massage
large amounts of caclium with magnesium and zinc - 1000mg is a very nice muscle relaxant that makes some of us sleepy....
tea works for some
meditation
reading
watching golf (heehee - no, I do not do that)

I'm sorry you're having trouble with sleep! I can't imagine how this would be for me - the only time I have trouble getting to sleep is when I'm getting sick and I don't know it yet! As it is, I get up at 5:30 am each morning, so that I can do yoga (not energetic stuff, just gentle stretching) and not have to rush through my morning to get to work at 8:00 am. The walking commute takes about 25 minutes and, on the few occasions when I get a ride to work I don't wake up for hours! Last year I was pretty consistently going to bed at 11:30 I need more sleep than that, so I'm trying to focus on going to bed earlier. That was my wordy way of saying that I'd be one who understands that you may not want to get up earlier to exercise in the morning!!

Good luck, sleep is a wonderful thing!

oh, right, how do you feel the day after having trouble sleeping? Is it having a pretty bad effect or is it no big deal? If it's no big deal, maybe don't even worry about it. Just get a little extra reading in those nights and go to sleep when you feel sleepy.

Hugs and butteflies,
~T~

[Bikingmomof3]

It sounds as though your body reacts well to exercise and mornings would probably be best. I exercise in the morning and run in the evening, followed by yoga for stretching and relaxation. I actually sleep better when I run in the evening. I do know a lot of people will advise not exercising at night. I think it all depends on how your body reacts. Obviously what your doing is not helping you get a decent nioght's sleep, so I suggest trying what others have already suggested. Wake up earlier and try to exercise before work. You may find yourself more energized and relaxed for your work day.

[kaybee]

I agree with the suggestions to get up early and exercise first thing in the morning. Believe me, if you get up around 4:30 and work out, you'll have no trouble falling asleep by 9:30! (Of course, you can kiss any semblance of a social life goodbye.)

KB

[HillSlugger]

It may be taking several hours for your metabolism to slow back down following your exercise. When I used to rock climb in the evenings and get home late from it, it would take me a while to wind down before I could even think of heading up to bed.

[hellosunshine]

theres that sequence of thought probably put into play "ive trained so i wont sleep",which wont be helping,"ive trained so now i will sleep"is a better track to play ,insomnia is a nasty rut to fall into,but it can be beaten and wont last for ever.