Monday, March 26, 2012

sleep or exercise

A quick survey:  when you have to choose between sleep and exercise (i.e. having to wake up early or go to sleep later in order to exercise), which one do you choose and why?

I used to choose exercise, but lately I am so sleep deprived that I need to pass on the exercise and get more zzz's .  I found that I was more likely to gain weight when I would exercise than when I would sleep.  This might be because I tend to snack in order to stay awake, or because I feel entitled to snack when exercising.  I don't know.  All I know is that I am a much better mother for Emma when I am awake and fully present rather than when I babysit her half dozing off while she is playing by herself.  So, tonight I chose sleep.  I am feeling a little guilty though...

6 comments:

  1. Sleep, no question about it! I have heard that lack of sleep can make you gain weight. Don't remember why though but it seems to be correct for you.
    Don't feel guilty, if that makes you feel better that's probably what you need right now.

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  2. I tend to alternate, depending on how I feel. If I feel I really, really need to exercise I will choose to do this instead of going to sleep early/sleeping in later. Not just for health reasons, but because I know that if I don't then I will likely lose sleep fretting about whether or not I should have exercised. However, if I am completely bushed, I will choose sleep instead.
    ~Marley

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  3. Penelope Cruz once claimed in an interview that she used to sleep at least 12 hours a day and that's how she kept her figure! So there's a totally factual bit of information.

    I always choose sleep ;)

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  4. If i'm sleep deprived I definitely choose sleep as I find everything becomes more caotic with a lack of sleep and my mental health always comes first....mind you getting outdoors for some exercise also helps my brain immensely but primarily I need the sleep first...I'm just a terrible napper as I feel guilty wasting the day yet I have learnt to accept the fact that sometimes it just needs to be done...for instance like today...I had a little snooze with my little man and got a lot more accomplished because of it!

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  5. A few weeks ago I had this fantasy that I could go to the 6am gym classes I used to attend. Husband would still ne home in case bub woke up, right? But then I realised that as I'm awake between 3:30 and 5 to pump it would basically mean I wouldn't get back to sleep. And there are days I already feel like too much if a zombie to hive my son proper attention. So sleep wins!!

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  6. Re your comment on my blog, no Kaia isn't exactly potty trained. We've been putting her on the potty a few times a day since early January. Initially we would wait a little while (5-10 minutes) and if she peed we'd make our 'cuing' noise (a Psssst sound). Then she began to associate the noise with peeing, so when we put her on the potty now we make the noise and generally she pees! It's all described in a book my friend lent me called "The Diaper Free Baby". We're not really strict with it or anything, as Kaia still wears a diaper ALL the time and still goes in her diaper, but I'm hoping it will make the transition to using the potty a little easier as she gets older. A friend of mine did it with her 22 month old and her daughter occasionally goes diaper free at this age and hasn't pooped in her diaper in months. Pretty cool!

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