REM Sleep Is Magical. Here’s What the Experts Know

Re:REM Sleep Is Magical. Here’s What the Experts Know by aaronrobinson on Sunday February 26, 2023 @05:47PM (#34950494)

Yeah I’m not sold on this. I exercise a lot - for ultra distance races - and I’m convinced that my body is sacrificing REM for deep sleep in order to repair my body. I find that I can only train or do intense cerebral work, never both during the same period. I think if you train up to a certain point of repair this may hold.

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Re:REM Sleep Is Magical. Here’s What the Experts Know by firsttimebigboy on Sunday February 26, 2023 @06:06PM (#34950668)

>ultra distance races

yeah of course there's an optimum amount of exercise before it becomes more harmful than helpful. training for ultra distance races definitely sounds like pushing the limits of human capabilities, which means you're probably trading off other parts of your life to make it happen.

for anyone that doesn't obsess over exercise it's probably almost always a net positive, including for sleep (from personal, anecdotal experience).

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Re:REM Sleep Is Magical. Here’s What the Experts Know by version_five on Sunday February 26, 2023 @07:09PM (#34951252)

I exercise a fair amount (run 80km a week). When I first started, I noticed I was more tired and slept better, now after doing it 10+ years I'd say I'm adapted and it has no effect. There's probably some better way of mixing exercises to reduce adaptation and keep getting tired (as well as the calorie burn, etc)

Also, I read that when doing more demanding training, in particular very long distances, it's possible to get into a "hypermetabolic" state where one doesn't sleep as well. Anecdotally I've felt this way after doing what for me are longer runs, say > 30 km.

I haven't experienced inability to think hard, even when I was doing more intense running. The more plodding kind I do these days I find is great for brain work as it lets me clear my mind of distractions and think about problems I'm working on. But it sounds like you are training harder than me

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Re:REM Sleep Is Magical. Here’s What the Experts Know by aaronrobinson on Sunday February 26, 2023 @07:49PM (#34951609)

Plodding is amazing for quietening the mind. A side effect of less REM is inability to concentrate - so I’m speculating that excess exercise means more repair more deep less REM less concentration. The time both take up is a factor too.

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