I've had lifelong problems maintaining anything remotely resembling a normal, consistent sleep schedule, coupled with chronic insomnia. Two sleep studies several years apart and a CPAP machine have done nothing. Scientific findings of a "food clock" that can override the circadian rhythm for sleep leads me to experiment. For the next 30 days I won't eat 16 hours before I intend to wake. On waking, eat breakfast. I hope this works.
Harvard discovers much faster way to adjust your sleep cycle
21–28 of 28 posts
Re: Harvard discovers much faster way to adjust your sleep cycle
#22Earlier quoted context omitted.
But wont that put me to sleep right away - I usually feel sleepy after a meal. This seems counter-intuitive.
> I usually feel sleepy after a meal. Carbs do that (e.g. potatoes). Try eating proteins and greens only instead and see if it still makes you sleepy.
the other theory i heard was that the stomach uses blood to churn food, which deprives the brain of blood
Re: Harvard discovers much faster way to adjust your sleep cycle
#23I've had lifelong problems maintaining anything remotely resembling a normal, consistent sleep schedule, coupled with chronic insomnia. Two sleep studies several years apart and a CPAP machine have done nothing. Scientific findings of a "food clock" that can override the circadian rhythm for sleep leads me to experiment. For the next 30 days I won't eat 16 hours before I intend to wake. On waking, eat breakfast. I ho…
Your sleeping problems resemble mine so closely I could have written that post, right down to the sleep studies and failed CPAP. I sincerely and truly and really really hope the food clock works for you; I'm going to start eating something, anything, when I wake up now.
Re: Harvard discovers much faster way to adjust your sleep cycle
#24I've had lifelong problems maintaining anything remotely resembling a normal, consistent sleep schedule, coupled with chronic insomnia. Two sleep studies several years apart and a CPAP machine have done nothing. Scientific findings of a "food clock" that can override the circadian rhythm for sleep leads me to experiment. For the next 30 days I won't eat 16 hours before I intend to wake. On waking, eat breakfast. I ho…
Your sleeping problems resemble mine so closely I could have written that post, right down to the sleep studies and failed CPAP. I sincerely and truly and really really hope the food clock works for you; I'm going to start eating something, anything, when I wake up now.
Thanks--I hope the experiment works also. It seems as though it should, based on my experience. It's also an opportunity to record the results of an experiment in Google docs, using their fancy spreadsheet gadgets.
Re: Harvard discovers much faster way to adjust your sleep cycle
#25I've had lifelong problems maintaining anything remotely resembling a normal, consistent sleep schedule, coupled with chronic insomnia. Two sleep studies several years apart and a CPAP machine have done nothing. Scientific findings of a "food clock" that can override the circadian rhythm for sleep leads me to experiment. For the next 30 days I won't eat 16 hours before I intend to wake. On waking, eat breakfast. I ho…
How much do you exercise each day and what do you do?
Re: Harvard discovers much faster way to adjust your sleep cycle
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
Your sleeping problems resemble mine so closely I could have written that post, right down to the sleep studies and failed CPAP. I sincerely and truly and really really hope the food clock works for you; I'm going to start eating something, anything, when I wake up now.
Thanks--I hope the experiment works also. It seems as though it should, based on my experience. It's also an opportunity to record the results of an experiment in Google docs, using their fancy spreadsheet gadgets.
I sure wouldn't mind seeing these results...
Re: Harvard discovers much faster way to adjust your sleep cycle
#27I thought this was common knowledge. For those who are used to eating with an hour of getting up, the breakfast regulates the energy levels in the day. So it makes sense to align all the meals with a breakfast schedule. I've used this trick for a long time. Never suffered from jet-lag.
Apparently it isn't common knowledge, but I guess I should have guessed it: I've been using food (esp. high protien foods) to stay awake for all-nighters for years. I never would have guessed the opposite would work!
Re: Harvard discovers much faster way to adjust your sleep cycle
#28It's at the bottom of the article, but the author of the paper was interviewed on NPR's Science Friday:
http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/200805234