Eating, Exercise, and Sleep

Q: I eat pretty healthy, at least try to, and I try to exercise... Why don't I feel good?

A: We want to feel good- good about ourselves, and just good. We want our bodies to feel healthy. No one wants headaches, backaches, leg aches... To feel good we need to eat well and exercise, but we also need to get a good night sleep. "One thing sleep specialists and doctors know is that adequate sleep is necessary for healthy functioning."

Q: I sometimes have a hard time going to sleep at night after exercising, when should I exercise?

A: "A good workout can make you more alert, speed up your metabolism and energize you for the day ahead, but exercise right before bedtime can lead to a poor night’s sleep. All the jumping jacks in the world won’t make up for a night of tossing and turning! Sleep experts recommend exercising at least three hours before bedtime, and the best time is usually late afternoon. Exercising at this time is beneficial because body temperature is related to sleep. Body temperatures rise during exercise and take as long as 6 hours to begin to drop. Because cooler body temperatures are associated with sleep onset, it’s important to allow the body time to cool off before sleep." (According to the National Sleep Foundation) You will have to figure out when exercise can best fit into your schedule- early in the morning, in the afternoon, a few hours before bedtime? There are many considerations as a parent: child care, getting dinner on the table, getting kids in bed, etc. It is no wonder how this ends up right before bedtime.

Q: I know I don't get enough sleep. I am always tired and I try to combat my tiredness with coffee? Is this okay?

A: It is very tiring and busy to be a parent. We always have things to do and then more things to do. Our 'To Do' is never completed, and we would always like to have some more free time to enjoy some of our own hobbies. But, we also need to listen to our bodies and stop. We need to realize that our 'To Do' list will never get done and chill. We need to make sleep a priority! By making sleep a priority- we are going to be able to stop relying on a caffeinated pick me up (or two or three or??) to get us through the day. "In fact, lack of sleep creates a vicious cycle – the more tired you are, the more caffeine you’ll consume to stay awake during the day; but the more caffeine you consume, the harder it’ll be to fall asleep at night. Not only are foods and drinks high in caffeine likely to keep you up at night, but they’re also usually replete with sugar or artificial sugar and not much else. When a healthy snack such as a carrot or granola bar is replaced with a can of Mountain Dew, you’re at higher risk for putting on weight and it becomes harder to sustain energy for a longer period of time." (National Sleep Foundation)

Take the time for yourself to exercise at least a few times every week, eat healthy (it is good for your kids too), and get the sleep you need to be the healthy, happy, and clearly functioning mamas and papas we need to be.