Circadian Rhythm Reset

[pooticus]

Hey Ousie and Jenny!!! Thanks so much for that! I hadn't seen or heard of that program! Denny downloaded to his laptop last night and will see how he likes it. (Um, he's the beta tester around here Ha!) Then we will load them onto my computer! MUAH!

See? I knew if I posted this stuff over here y'all would have so many more sources of information to share and experience/knowledge to add to the base!!!! Woooot! I'm so pumped!!!

Last night I went around, trying to find as many led displays and readout screens as I could. They're everywhere!!! (I sound like one of the aliens from HALO!) LOL, but we had the darkest house we've had since Ike wiped out the electricity in the whole city of Houston for days/weeks! Then I slept in my amber shades that clip onto my eyeglasses! Haha! Some light from outside still penetrated the sides of the glasses, so I will be looking for cheaper glasses options.

I slept without waking once I fell asleep. But unfortunately, I was so wired from all the pre-bed taping mania that I had trouble settling down after lights out and my mind time-travelled like crazy for a couple of hours! Sheesh! I'm pooped this morning!

[Aeroangie]

I really, really want the glasses! My sleep issues have been getting worse with menopause and it seems that my autoimmune thyroid disease likes to become active at night for some reason.

If anyone else has Hashimoto's and experiences this, I'd love to hear how you cope! Also, with the menopause, I get hot, cold, hot, cold which wakes me every couple of hours.

I am definitely going to try JUDDD. It seems this is going to be an answer I have looked for. for many things, and for a long time!

[piratejenny]

I've read that using a sleep mask is good, as it blocks out ALL light...might be more comfy than sleeping with glasses on!

I kept my glasses near the lamp by my bed, in case of midnight potty trips!

[pooticus]

Jenny I thought of a sleep mask! I may see if "Bed, Bath & Beyonce" have one or maybe even Target!! Do you sleep with one?

AeroAngie - I hope it helps you!!! Jenny says there are more economical places to find the low blue light glasses on the internet!!

[janetsbreeze]

I really would like to try this and am reading more about it.
Pooti, thanks for sharing your results with us!
I am looking into a sleep mask for myself as we leave a hall light on all night for my cat which lets in a great deal of light. I've noticed that since leaving the light on, I feel more tired in general.

[piratejenny]

No, I was just reminded of their existence when you said you slept with your glasses on!!!

Def. going on my list of things to try, though.

[KeirasMom]

Originally Posted by pooticus

Jenny I thought of a sleep mask! I may see if "Bed, Bath & Beyonce" have one or maybe even Target!! Do you sleep with one?

AeroAngie - I hope it helps you!!! Jenny says there are more economical places to find the low blue light glasses on the internet!!

I have seen them often at Claire's etc. Any of the "accessory" stores will have really cute masks, though they're also available at the big box stores, in the bath aisle IIRC.

[piratejenny]

Haha, I just noticed "bed bath & beyonce"!!!

[sterlinggirl]

interesting.. Now the one question i have is this.. so any one please jump in with an answer.. I understand the eating window and the fasting time of 16 hours but my quesiton is.. Does coffee with creamer mean it is not allowed then before the 11am feeding start time?? I am up eveyr day at 6 am, and usually stop eating after 6 pm normally, so changing this is fine IF i can drink my coffe as soon as i wake.

[wiiiifit]

I have a sleep mask; but it bothers me and I don't use it. I found it at Dollar Tree if anybody is looking for one. I am one of those people who are bothered by certain textures, seams, anything binding, etc. So, the sleep mask just didn't work for me. But, in the winter time I have pajamas that have a hoodie. I love them and use it sort of like a sleep mask. It comes down and loosely covers my eyes and forehead not like the mask which was a little too binding when I am trying to sleep.

I have been doing a lot of research on reducing cortisol naturally with diet and exercise, with supplements and other techniques and habits to get more sleep. I downloaded the f.lux program, too. Thanks for the tips and shared experiences.

[Aeroangie]

Sterlinggirl....I can't speak to JUDD but with regular ole' intermittent fasting, consuming calories outside of that window breaks the fast. This reason alone is why I switched from coffee to sugar free diet soda. I.F. purists might disagree with even doing that so I am curious to see responses! Good question!!!!

[sterlinggirl]

Originally Posted by Aeroangie

Sterlinggirl....I can't speak to JUDD but with regular ole' intermittent fasting, consuming calories outside of that window breaks the fast. This reason alone is why I switched from coffee to sugar free diet soda. I.F. purists might disagree with even doing that so I am curious to see responses! Good question!!!!

WOW..Well if it works i guessssss i could see if i can live with out my Number 1 ADDICTION~~~ lol I am an adict to my coffee... they say the first step to over coming any addiction is to admit you have a problem No problem here,, i just love love my coffee~

[janetsbreeze]

Geez, no coffee with cream before the eating window?
Oh boy.

[sterlinggirl]

Originally Posted by janetsbreeze

Geez, no coffee with cream before the eating window?
Oh boy.

I know right???

[C'Marie]

But black coffee is ok? What about supplements?

[piratejenny]

Ladies, don't despair;
I've read in various places that your body doesn't really register fat as "breaking the fast",
because fat doesn't stimulate insulin release (although protein & carbohydrates do).
I can attest to this because I've tested my blood sugar
on several different occasions...fasting, drinking coffee with cream, having a high protein breakfast.

So, theoretically, the physical benefit (or harm*) of fasting will continue even if you have coffee (with or without cream)...although I personally find that caffeine messes with my blood sugar, so I only drink decaf.

(*Fasting can cause cortisol levels to remain elevated, especially in people with adrenal fatigue. Also, many studies on IF have been done on males, and there is not as much data about how it affects females.
Paleo For Women | Shattering the Myth of Fasting for Women: A Review of Female-Specific Responses to Fasting in the Literature)

[janetsbreeze]

Bless you Piratejenny.
So I got my sleep mask, ate my dinner, it's before 7pm. I am ready!

[pooticus]

Dr. J. said nothing with calories. So I drink my coffee black and unsweetened (although he said sf is ok...)

[janetsbreeze]

Well crap.

[piratejenny]

Well, I'm not going to argue with Dr Johnson!

All I can say is, try it both ways and see if you notice a difference.

From what I've heard over the years (from hippie health food store people, not Paleo people or doctors ), using coffee to wake yourself up sort of defeats the whole purpose of trying to normalize your cortisol cycle (energetic in the morning, sleepy at night). It can also stress the adrenal glands by increasing cortisol production. (That's another reason I only drink decaf.)

ETA:
It just sort of dawned on me that Pooti hasn't really been discussing adrenals & cortisol.
I got very excited about this thread because the two issues--circadian rhythm & cortisol production--seem to be intertwined in my case, and, a couple weeks ago, I'd started researching changes I could make.
I hope I haven't been confusing the issues or threadjacking.

If this reset only takes 3 weeks, perhaps the circadian rhythm can be corrected rather quickly in people who don't have serious cortisol issues?
(In contrast, it can take several months to "heal" the adrenal glands.)

[pooticus]

Jenny! Very true. I should quit talking shorthand here!

I drink organic, water decaffeinated coffee, black, unsweetened! Sorry!

I'm sure the 3 cups I drink probably does jack with cortisol and caffeine? Dunno!

I have cortisol issues. That's why I absolutely don't do well on caffeine. The biggest exception I make is about 1/4 glass of ice tea when we go out somewhere. If I make tea at home, it's always either herbal or decaff. Even then, 2c of decaff over the entire day is enough caffeine (from 2 normal size decaf green tea bags), to make me jittery and wired.

[Carly]

I had another terrible night last night, but I don't think I would be successful at the reset program. The hours for the feeding window are way off for me and I live in a city with street lights. Since I sleep walk I fear the mask will be dangerous...

[pooticus]

Originally Posted by Carly

I had another terrible night last night, but I don't think I would be successful at the reset program. The hours for the feeding window are way off for me and I live in a city with street lights. Since I sleep walk I fear the mask will be dangerous...

Carly, buy the glasses and sleep in them. They have some called "comfort". They wrap around the sides of your eyes and are meant to combat that sort of light pollution.

And as with anything, this is a process. People are at different points in their journey. Neither is right or wrong. But if you get to the point where you are willing to alter and inconvenience your life or change what you know simply to get relief and healing - then you know these are available as possible tools for you.

Personally? I CAN'T afford NOT to try this to see if it helps melatonin levels. Women with breast cancer are being shown to have less melatonin and I know my sleep habits have been crap! I can't afford a recurrence. I'm Stage IIIC. If it comes back again, it's terminal disease. So I'm willing to change my food habits (I'm a late eater, so it's VERY difficult to start planning early dinner meals.)

If you are a shift worker, there are instructions for workarounds for shift workers. You just flip the schedule. The key is maintaining a routine schedule for whatever shift you're on and tricking your body with the glasses and periods of dark and light.

[janetsbreeze]

Well, the sleeping mask was a bust. I could not get comfortable with it on my face and it made me very hot. Glad it was only $3.
I did end up putting a pillow against the door to block light and it was so much better.

I'm still thinking about the coffee with cream dilemma. I do love my coffee and cream, but am I really giving this a fighting chance if I continue to drink it?

[pooticus]

Janet, I think I'd go with Jenny on that! Try it and see!! What have ya got to lose?

The way I gave up cream a long time ago is that I started taking out about 1/4 tsp at a time! LOL, it took me MONTHS! ha!

[janetsbreeze]

I think I will

[C'Marie]

Well, as a result of this thread, I have been trying to go to bed earlier every night. And finishing eating earlier every night. And sleeping in total darkness, and downloaded the f.lux for the computer I use most.

So I had heard that "taking" melatonin was "bad" if you are having hormonal problems, but in order to sleep I am taking it off and on. But if we are working on increasing "normal" melatonin, how can taking it be bad? I'm confused.

[ebeads]

I would also like to know if taking melatonin consistently builds up a better melatonin "response" for lack of a better word ( I am not in the medical field, just a "civilian") or is the supplement just there when you take it and not when you don't. My sleep is so messed up. I have had a sleep study done and do not have apnea, but beyond that I have no answers. I have been taking melatonin , 1 a day, for about a month. Also tryptophan. I only have 1 coffee when I get up. I do the dark room, "pink noise" etc, but my mind just will not sleep even when my body is so tired I can barely move. I am reluctant to use prescriptions. I have tried the generic for Ambien ( forget the name ) and I have to tell you when I took one, my sleep was not really much better. When I took 2 I did get a 4 to 5 hour block of non-waking so that was good. But I do not like the zombie the next day feeling from the drug. Also, I am currently uninsured, so meds are largely out of my pocketbook's reach. Thanks for listening.

[C'Marie]

Well, I didn't sleep much last night. Hopefully it's just transient, screaming on-the-way-out last kick at the door insomniac-ism. Tired today. And it's a DD. I hate being tired on a DD. Makes me want to EAT to get some energy.

[sunday]

I wish I knew the answer.

My DH, DS, & BFF all have insomnia. Curiously, all three suffer with ADHD as well. Also, all three have suffered with some bouts of depression. My DS isn't medicated, but my DH & BFF are on Vyvanse, and they know that it is also causing issues to the sleep disorder.
I believe lack of a good night's sleep has to be the cause of many other health issues, but would love to know why and what can be done?

I have wondered why I don't have it? I sleep like a rock.

This is a fascinating youtube by a specialist doctor with National Sleep Foundation explains the consequences of insomnia and the different types of disorder. She says that Behavioral Therapy is much more effective than medication for insomnia. I find it interesting that I am a worrier, so I would think that I would have sleep issues, but I really don't.

Sleep Disorders - Health Matters - YouTube

Also, this is a bit different, but another great listen. Very interesting about sleep apnea...

Sleep Disorders | Dr. Ravi Aysola - YouTube