What's Up Caveboys (and cavegirls)

Midway through my second week of eating Paleo and feeling fantastic. I'm going with low fruit/low nuts right now because I've got some serious wait to loose (Prob 50 pounds.) So far I'm already down 11.5 pounds. Never thought I could drink so much water!

Anyway, as the title says everything is going really well except for one thing:

I CANNOT SLEEP!

I lay down in be at night and feel like I'm going 100MPH. Last night I was up to 5am before I finally doze off. I can't recall if this happened the first few days, but it's definitely been an issue for the last 5-6 nights. The crazy thing is, I still have a good bit of energy during the day.

There are only two potential reasons I'm targeting right now, and I'm hoping someone might be able to chime in.

1. Coffee: I used to drink a bunch of coffee and diet soda throughout the day before I went back in time. The first 4-5 days of Paleo I went 100% water. Since then, I've incorporated 1-2 cups (black no sugar) in the morning. It's more of a social thing with my wife than a need or craving. It surely can't be that little bit of caffeine in the morning, can it?

2. Late Dinner: My schedule is a bit messed up right now because I'm coaching my younger son's football team. We have to leave the house at 5pm and I usually don't eat dinner until 8:30 or 9pm. This is happening Mon-Fri until school starts, then we cut down to 3 nights a week. The thing is, we eat dinner at a normal time on Sat & Sun and I've got the same issues.

I'm exercising pretty regularly..so I don't think that's it.

anyone else experience this? Any ideas on how to combat?

Happy Hunting!

No3Putts

Anyway, as the title says everything is going really well except for one thing:

I CANNOT SLEEP!

I lay down in be at night and feel like I'm going 100MPH. Last night I was up to 5am before I finally doze off. I can't recall if this happened the first few days, but it's definitely been an issue for the last 5-6 nights. The crazy thing is, I still have a good bit of energy during the day.

How late do you keep the TV or computer on? Lighting is important to our circadian rhythms. I make sure all computers, TVs, and overhead lights are off in my apartment by 8:30. I keep small side lamps on, and read or clean or something.

Firstly, if you are having trouble sleeping caffeine should be the first thing to go. One cup in the morning can and will keep me up all night, through the next day and most of the way into the next night. Skip the coffee for a couple of days and you'll know if it is the issue.

Another possibility is that it may just be the excess energy from going into ketosis, but I'd cut the coffee out first to find out. Paleo does make you more sensitive to a lot of things, stimulant and taste wise.

When my carbs are too low insomnia is sure to follow. I've discovered around the net that this isn't uncommon.

Hello No3Putts

Your comments prompted me to do some reading - I'll post in the research section about sleep

I've always had that problem--there is no such thing as drifting off peacefully into sleep, at least not with me! I take 6mg of Melatonin at 8pm every night, in order to keep a routine that my body can follow.

You might consider buying a cheap pair of glasses (if you have a prescription, you might need to have these done through an optometrist) and have them tinted with the orange Blue Blocker color. The blue light that's emitted from TVs and pc monitors tricks your brain into thinking it's still light outside, and that it needs to stay alert a few more hours (hence the insomnia). The orange tint will block the blue light, and should help start the production of melatonin before you go to bed.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071112143308.htm

And you'll look really cool at your pc wearing them.     (My future's so bright I gotta wear shades.)

I use a free program to change the quality of light emitted from the screen based on the time of day called f.lux.

http://www.stereopsis.com/flux/

It works great for eye strain and for not being kept awake by the computer.

That program is great, guys! I just installed it, my eyes already feel better

Also, much better than wearing blue blockers, lol!