When my babies are in the 4 - 7 month range, I tend to hit a wall. I'm completely tired to the bone and so so so very sleepy. I have been known to fall asleep while changing diapers. I do not lie.
My solution, so far, has been Dr. Pepper. The sudden deluge of caffeine and sugar is enough to shock me awake. However, it doesn't last more than 2 hours, and I find it's time to reach for another. This, of course, adds up quickly, and it's not uncommon for me to add an extra 300-600 calories a day to my typical food intake.
Now I am certainly an advocate of sleeping when you need it. There's seriously no reason to purposely keep yourself from it. But my opportunities for sleep totally depend on my kids' schedules. I can't exactly just abandon them while I go catch up on my sleep.
So I'm looking for ideas... anything really... to keep me from falling asleep while caring for my kids, BUT without sabotaging my weight loss efforts. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them.
My solution, so far, has been Dr. Pepper. The sudden deluge of caffeine and sugar is enough to shock me awake. However, it doesn't last more than 2 hours, and I find it's time to reach for another. This, of course, adds up quickly, and it's not uncommon for me to add an extra 300-600 calories a day to my typical food intake.
Now I am certainly an advocate of sleeping when you need it. There's seriously no reason to purposely keep yourself from it. But my opportunities for sleep totally depend on my kids' schedules. I can't exactly just abandon them while I go catch up on my sleep.
So I'm looking for ideas... anything really... to keep me from falling asleep while caring for my kids, BUT without sabotaging my weight loss efforts. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them.
some things i've learned to do that help me stay on top of my game throughout my busy days~
ReplyDelete*get regular cardiovascular exercise
*eat six or more small meals (snack size) a day instead of three big ones
*drink a moderate amount of coffee
*drink lots of water when I begin to feel sleepy
*eat when I'm hungry (or when my blood sugar drops) and until I'm full/satisfied, but thinking before I put something in my mouth: "is this really what my body is calling for?". plus eating slowly so I'll recognize when I've had enough.
Those are just some things that help me stay alert without filling up on sugar.
~peggy
If I really need to stay awake, I use 5 Hour Energy. There's no post coffee buzz and it makes feel calm and alert.
ReplyDeleteNow...it's like once in a blue moon that I drink it so it might lose its effectiveness if it was used daily. It's mostly just lots of B-Vitamins.
Going outside helps me stay awake, so I take my daughter on lots of walks.
ReplyDeletePeggy, those would probably help a lot of things. :) I need to think more about my health and not just the need to wake up.
ReplyDeleteBeans...
I've wondered about 5 Hour Energy. I might have try it. Perhaps that would be something to have on hand for those awful times.
Maeve's Momma...
I think you're right. I tend to get so wrapped up in being sleepy that I don't think of the obvious things. I'm going to go outside tomorrow when I get sleepy.
Altovis.
ReplyDelete