mkgbrook

Magika,

Alright, here it goes. I have sleep apnea and the MD's I see for it recommend:

1) to aide in a good night's sleep "do cardio/light weight training for at least 30 minutes within a 3 hour window" before your sleep time. The training should help you fall asleep quicker and sleep deeper. Follow activity with a hot shower at bed time for a minimum of 15 minutes.

So no, I do not think your issue is the evening workouts, they should be helping you.

2) to aide in sleeping, do not drink caffine after noon if you plan on going to sleep before midnight. Minimize sugar intake after 12 pm.

3) to aide in sleeping do not have a TV or watch TV and fall asleep to it. The variable light patterns effect the ability for you to achieve REM sleep and can cause premature wake up periods... Same goes for a significant other playing computer games in the bedroom, while you sleep.

4) to aide in sleeping keep your bedroom as dark as possible, i.e. no night lights. (This took me a while to get used too with young children to check on in the middle of the night.)

5) to aide in sleeping read something relaxing for thirty minutes before turning out the ligths.

6) drink milk and/or eat some sliced turkey as a snack in the late evening. Both products contain natural sleep aides.

7) find out what is keeping you mind active... normally there is a stresser, something at work, home, school, etc. If you can identify what is causing you stress even subconsciously and work through it you will have peace of mind and sleep better.

(My method is to take a piece of paper and keep it in my pocket all day. On this paper I list things that need to be completed, as well as things that may have annoyed me. In the evening I write down all that I did accomplish for the day, feeding and getting the kids to school, x loads of laundry, house work, school work. work work, etc... add what I need to do (with a note of how best to resolve the task) and then laugh at the little stuff that annoyed me (son whining that his toasted bread was not brown enough, husband rinsing of the dijon chicken sauce before eating, some *idgit* cutting me off on the interstate, etc...). Since I always do much more than I need to complete, I tend to be able to shrug off the undone until tomorrow and sleep stress free.)

8) Almost forgot... if you do not fall asleep within 30 minutes of laying down get up and be active for about an hour and then try again.

Respectfully Yours,
MG