Training & Nutrition - Sleeping All Weekend--how to avoid the crash & burn

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Cosmoline
03-20-07, 01:50 PM
I've been commuting five days a week in some pretty cold weather lately (down to Zero f. ) and while the commute is only six miles round trip, I find I'm so totally exhausted by Friday I end up sleeping most of Saturday and for a long time on Sunday. Any tips on how to avoid this "crash and burn"?

terrymorse
03-20-07, 02:02 PM
I don't think it's the commute that's doing you in.

If you're sleepy, you're sleep deprived. Get some more sleep during the week. Try going to bed an hour earlier.
C Law
03-20-07, 02:21 PM
+1 . riding 30 miles over a five day period should not wipe you out for 2 days. get more sleep. If you are already sleeping enough, go see a doctor

Creakyknees
03-26-07, 04:11 PM
Agree it may be mid-week sleep (probably the most likely reason)

If you've eliminated sleep as a possibility (i.e. you really are getting 8+ hours of un-interrupted quality sleep, each and every night, and that doesn't mean "I can get by on 5 hours because I'm tough")

If you've eliminated that and still have a problem, consider your carb intake. With 2-a-day rides in the cold, your metabolism is basically turned on full blast all day and all night. You're burning tons of calories, and sure the weight loss is great (been there myself) but after a while you just need fuel.

So... IF you've eliminated sleep as a cause, try adding a bowl of pasta or your favorite complex-carb fule every day. Me, I used to add a regular side-order size bowl of rice to my lunch on days when I commuted, worked out about right. Another indicator is if you're constantly hungry but feel guilty because you don't want to get fat... just feed the beast some carbs for a few days and see how you feel.

Creak
Enthalpic
03-26-07, 04:44 PM
Stop getting drunk on Friday nights. ;)
Snuffleupagus
03-26-07, 04:57 PM
I can totally relate.

I completely crashed last Saturday. In my case it was due to a fairly heavy training load, running a calorie defecit and not sleeping enough. By the time Saturday rolled around I crashed all day...it kinda sucked.

If you're training and have a stressful job you need to be getting 8 hours of sleep. I'll try to take my own advice :)