I win.
I didn't wake up naturally, but I woke up with the alarm right at 6 and had no trouble getting right out of bed. I'm savoring this little success, but I can't forget that 24 hours ago I was sleeping like... well... I know the phrase is "a baby," but I think it seems more appropriate to say I was sleeping like a... a... regular monophasic person. I'll come up with a name for you people.
So this is how my second block is starting
Sleep – 30 minutes. I'm thinking of testing this at 25 minutes.
Fatigue – minor.
Exercise - 20 minutes on the exercise bike, legs sore actually and butt HATES that seat even with a pillow.
4.02 miles
185 calories
32.4 carbs
Weight - 258 lbs
Food - Oatmeal and coffee (gasp!)
Mood - Strong
Health - good
So I don't know if the soreness is my body's new attempt to stop me from doing one of these new things I've started... For the love of Mary, body, you're FAT. Don't you wanna stop being fat??? Knock it off... And I'm gonna have to figure out some way to comfort my butt... you'd THINK the fat would do the trick. If only I could, like, surf the bike on my tummy... THAT should feel like I'm floating on jello.
I don't know if the coffee is a good experiment at this point. Here are the quick parameters and issues about caffeine because I don't think I've mentioned it so far. Of course we all know that caffeine has an effect on one's ability to go to sleep, and as my next nap is but four and a half hours away, that CAN be a concern. More importantly, and less overtly observed, however, is the theory (fact?) that caffeine can slow the body's pace at entering a REM cycle, and entering REM cycles quickly and efficiently is what it's all about for polyphasic sleepers. On the flip side, and the only reason I'm even considering it are the following two things.
one) caffeine has empirically had less of an effect on my system (probably due to my ADD)
two) the author of Ubersleep mentions that she drinks 2 cups per day and talks about doing so in moderation.
Of course you would do this immediately after a nap, not in the middle of a waking cycle or towards the end. I'll see how this affects my 11:30, but after reading that I'm less worried. I have no intention of drinking much in general... I'm not an addict... but for now I'll consider a cup of coffee or tea probably specifically at this hour until I acclimate. Then I'm sure it'll be very sporadic. To me coffee is really more like a comfort treat than at all a "need." Don't get me wrong, if there is some effect of the caffeine on helping me get a good start to this cycle, I'm all for that too. We'll judge based on the effects later in the day.
I have to bring something else up here. Both Ubersleep and my friend Robalee, a very smart, health focused girl who knows me well, cautioned against making too many changes at once lest some sort of bodily implosion or such... meaning that the idea of starting a polyphasic sleep lifestyle WHILE simultaneously changing other things like... say... starting to exercise, or changing your diet substantially, or your eating routines etc. is a dangerous concept. For me, however, this is proving to work really well so far. I don't feel the slightest bit physically or mentally overwhelmed by this... in fact... I think the idea that my polyphasic schedule has empowered a routine where I can get in 4 small exercise routines and as well evenly spread out my eating, which is now much healthier than before has been instrumental in keeping every aspect going. In addition, I think the exercise helps wake and energize me after naps in this all important acclimation phase. I haven't lost any real weight to speak of yet, but it just hasn't been long enough to judge results of that kind. I can certainly tell you I FEEL better already. By doing all this at once it's hard to know what and how much to attribute to all these different things, but I'm less concerned with that at the moment. After this has all settled in I can experiment to see what changes effect what. In the meantime, all I can say is that I feel that the following reasons are reasons I would give to endorse taking this all on at once.
one) I really do think each of these things is more positively effecting the other than being overwhelming. Spreading meals is helping my metabolism and energy levels, as is exercise, napping is helping force those two on a schedule unlike anything I personally have been able to do, I'm mindful of taking my vitamin supplements, and 4 showers a day with teeth brushing are going to keep my teeth and body cleaner than ever before, as well, as the showers help the "waking up."
two) I think there is a big mental component positively at play here. A big reason I'm doing this is to get healthier, more energetic, and more focused. Putting those together with an extra 6 hours a day is tremendously exciting to me. I feel like by doing these all together I'm making a commitment to myself to not wait in any area to get healthy.
three) I think I'll see stronger and quicker benefits because I'm not waiting to implement these things in layers. The faster and better the progress, the more encouraging it is.
four) I've failed at managing these things previous (except the polyphasic sleep which I've never tried) because creating a ROUTINE to do these things is so important. It seems easier to me to create one new routine, then create a routine for polyphasic sleep, for instance, and when that new routine get settled and established, then have to change it up by adding something else and waiting for that to take hold, and then change it up again to add something else. Instead... one new routine that adds all these things important to you and establish them together. It's so easy to remember that after my nap is exercise, a shower of course, and then a meal.
five) I feel that, if you have some bad habits (like I did) of fast food eating, for example, the nature of the unhealthiness of that will hurt your chances of success in other areas. Isn't that why we aren't supposed to be eating bad? Cause it really saps our energy and health? Energy and health that would be helpful in getting good, productive naps for instance. It seems logical to me that had I NOT changed some of these things, the polyphasic sleep schedule would be harder to acclimate to.
Anyway, congratulations to those of you who made it to the end of this post. :)
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3 comments:
I think the importance of not trying to undertake all of these things at once is not that it's inherently dangerous or that your body will implode at all. The way I see it is that for any major undertaking (or minor for that matter) you serve yourself best by laying a foundation. I understand the urgency you feel to make positive changes for yourself. I think that sense of urgency can be maintained while making preparations and laying the foundation for successfully achieving long term goals.
Buildings are built from the bottom up. Plants do a lot of work growing themselves in the dark, underground before they break ground and venture into the sunlight. They do not simply appear out of thin air.
It seems that Steve Pavlina was so successful in his undertaking due to his so prepared and well rounded in so many other areas of his life. I see that the many years of personal development made the transition to polyphasic sleeping much easier for him-but remember he said it was not easy even for him!
You have the most chance of success when you plan properly and have plenty of external support from your friends and family. Remember too that most people are resistant to change so springing such an 'out there' idea on them can freak them out.
I think you are doing a great job and deserve support and congratulations! I'm gonna keep telling you what I think though.
I think it's awesome that you're tackling it all at once - I totally see the value of establishing one new routine and fitting all the pieces together.
Keep up the good work Bro - I'm hoping to find inspiration from your changes - I just need to make the time to implement them! Love ya.
What JMA said.
It sounds as though you're doing well moderating these changes to your lifestyle. That said, go easy on yourself. Like any self-improvement regimen, it's not a race. What's worked for others need not be a scale to hold yourself to.
You're doing great and working hard at this. It sounds extremely difficult so don't get down on yourself when your mind and physiology rebel. That's natural.
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