Hello fellow minglers! I have a tiny problem that's ruining my days. Lately I have had trouble falling asleep. I'll be completely exaughsted but I just can't sleep unless I take medication. Sadly, if I take these medications I can't wake up when I need to. Any suggestions?

Carbohydrates before sleeping keep your
brain and digestive systems totally active.

I would try NO carbs after 5pm at night,
sticking with protein, which does not raise
the same issues.

Also, I would avoid ALL caffeine products.

NO CARBS! Well looks like those midnight snacks are going to have to stop! Thanks I'll try moving my dinner to 4. Hope this works :)

I saw this study once.
People who ate popcorn before
bed NEVER slept :-)

Well so much for my popcorn and iced coffee after dinner

I know, huh.
Before I found out, I used to have
an expresso every night at bedtime.
Slept like a baby.

Most sleeping aids are addictive in that you won't fally asleep for days unless you take them. Give them a chance to wear off. Milk and white turkey meat has an enzyme that aids sleep.

I eat 2 eggs about an hour before I go to sleep and it has helped me get a good 8 hours. My doctor told me it helps to stabilize blood sugar.

Hmm I'll try eating a protien bar. I'm a vegetarian so the turkey is out of the question for me lol.

I agree with this. Also, you might try some yoga, especially utilizing the breathing exercises. Plain meditation can also help.

I know how that feels. Sometimes you just want a proper sleep, yet nothing seems to work. I suffer with sleep apnea, so i wake up at random times of the day/night. The dr tried putting me on antidepressants, thinking it'd help. It helped, but, i found i had too much trouble waking myself up. I felt comatosed. Felt like i wasn't really here physically or mentally. Had to stop taking them just incase they put me in a sleep coma. And i wasn't gonna put my family through the worry. Those things (the pills) can be a danger over time. lol.

Hi, I sympathise. I hope you don't mind me stating some tips here.

The first main thing is no napping during the day. If someone sleeps during the day then of course less sleep is needed at night.

As another poster said, no eating carbs, and actually no snacks either in the evening as your body will be digesting and especially evening type snacks can cause discomfort.

If you have problems (and who doesn't nowadays) try not to take them to bed with you. So a relaxing wind-down in the evening with a warm bath, milky drink (not a caffeine one) and a warm but well-ventilated bedroom. Make you bedroom a haven - somewhere uncluttered, tidy and a relaxing room.

Some people need more sleep than others. Don't think you HAVE to have eight hours. Perhaps you need seven or nine hours.

You really need to be tired for bed so it may mean having a busy day and some exercise will help.

Ummm I can't think of anything else for the timebeing, but I hope you get this sorted.

My solution to getting a better night sleep is vigorous physical
exercise earlier in the day - before work, at lunch of afterwork.
That way, when bedtime comes the body is really tired - plus it is
healthy.

I do agree with the other posters that diet could also be a factor.

For me what happens is that my mind will get tired after a long
days work with mental stress and fatigue but if I don't get enough
physical exercise then sometimes the body just won't be tired and
it is harder to get to sleep.

The fastest way to get physically tired to help the process is by
lifting weights at the gym - especially the largest muscles of the
legs. You have to go easy with lower weights and more reps until
your muscles get stronger - but if you spend a good 30 mins of weight
training all the muscles of the body at a gym earlier in the day
then you will really be physically tired come bedtime and it should
help you get to sleep much more easily and have a better nights
sleep as well.



Ask for some assistance with the machines from someone at the gym
if you are new to them and find a gym which is free - at a local
Y or college for instance so you don't have to join a club.

I also don't recommend buying any home gym equipment - except
perhaps an exercise ball, jumprope or a set of hand dumbells which
are all inexpensive. If you really have to do without a gym then
walk stairs up and down, jump rope, jog, pushups, situps and
pullups will do the trick - again especially the leg stuff until
you can find a way to get to the gym regularly.



It really works for me.

Well,ill share from a magazine : Sunflower Farmers Market Healthy Values Dec. 2011 issue. Kevin's corner.
Have a question go to sfmarkets.com and submit your query via the contact US link. We'll answer question via this column or e mail. Kevin Lubovich / Natural Living Manager. Scottsdale Arizona Store 1


He recommends a glass of warm milk...contains tryptophan,an amino acid that acts as precursor to serotonin which slows down nerve impulses and calms the brain,especially when combined with carbohydrates. In addition to milk. Nut butter spread on apple slices,or hard-cooked egg with high-fiber crackers.


....."If you are the type to wake midnight, you might have magnesium deficiency. This crucial mineral, also depleted by taking calcium or consuming lots of soda and other refinance ed carbs, naturally relaxes net es and muscles to calm the body and encourage sleep. It's also. BElieved to enhance secretion of the sleep hormone melatonin and helps prevent nightime leg cramps.
Food sources are plentiful, but if you think you are not getting enough consider taking magnesium supplemental (about 400mg) half an hour before going to bed. Also consider B vitamins. Your body needs B6 to produce serotonin, which slows down nerve impulses and calms the brain when combined with carbohydrates ; vitamin b12 supports a healthy nervous system. Deficiencies of both can lead to insomnia.
Definitely don't use alcohol as sleep aid. After providing a temporary mental calm, alcohol makes your body work hard to break it down,compromising rest. I, also, suggest limiting caffeine intake ( that includes chocolate!), especially after 3PM; caffeine's energizing effects can last up to 12 hours after eating or drinking it"....

Thanks to your question, I learned something about myself and. Yes I ate for dessert: chocolate ice cream...I'm quite awake.

I used to go to sleep and wake up but now I found that passing out and coming to works much better. High five on the white turkey meat. Another one I have found is sassafras tea. You can cut the sassafras roots up and boil them. I think that is why root beer is so good for you.

Thank you all for helping me with this problem of mine. It was working for awhile. I do go to the gym and run for 20 minutes and lift weights then take a nice swim afterwards so my body is usually tired and I moved my dinner to 4 and been snacking on protien bars before bed but some nights I'm still up(like tonight) but I'll keep at it!

Thanks for the recommendations. I might try some of em. . If it doesn't work, well at least i tried.

I have the same issue not sleeping. ABC in the states is having a program on it. So far I learned don't nap. Cut back on Caffine. Take the tv out of my bed room and if I snore I may have sleep apnea. Oh and depervation for 24 hours and then try to sleep.

Talk about a train wreck LOL...

I stay up all day and fight off the sleep till a decent time and then make cerain I am up extra early the next day. I also increased my vitmains and stopped coffee/caffine after 2 beverages of it. Seems to be working for me. I have slept well for 3 nights. : )

Good luck if you continue to have an issue of not sleeping you may want to see a doctor.