how damaging is lack of sleep?

**GPS226** · 03-09-2008, 01:54 AM

Hi there ya'll...I've got yet another question since I'm super paranoid about losing gains. First my stats, 23 years old 5'6" 176 BF 9%.. started PCT for my first cycle 3 days ago. It was a basic test-e and d-bol and I made very nice gains. So...I work 2 jobs and I've been short on sleep for quite awhile, preceding and including my cycle. It didn't seem to have an adverse effect on my gains, but I'm wondering if since now I'm in a catabolic state, if a lack of lots of sleep will have a heavy impact on my PCT and be a major factor in whether I can keep most of my gains.

**hugovsilva** · 03-09-2008, 02:00 AM

Most of the recovery and growth is done during sleep. Not having enough sleep can jeopardize all the work you have done during the day. We all here have our difficulties in gwtting enough sleep but try your best.

**RapaciousShark** · 03-09-2008, 03:25 AM

I'm no expert but I thought you should know that sleep makes all the difference for me. I can't gain one pound of muscle without a solid week of good sleep behind it. No joke

**Markosterone** · 03-09-2008, 03:28 AM

dont worry about it. just try to get as much sleep as you can.

**Minotaur** · 03-09-2008, 03:46 AM

For me and i'm sure everyone on here sleep is THE most important part of life not just for your gains from a cycle etc.
A lack of sleep for a few nights will impair everything you do in day to day life including your training, but if you are unfortanate enough to suffer from insomnia or anything which affects your sleep long term your in for a rough ride as moderate to severe sleep deprevation is a killer, literally, 5 weeks without a wink of sleep can kill you!!
Not wanting to scare you but the sooner you get back into a regular healthy sleep pattern the better as the catch up game is a long frustrating process and can lead to a whole host of other unwanted problems, all the best

**samcam** · 03-09-2008, 08:58 AM

"Sleep deprivation is a commonplace occurrence in modern culture. Every day there seems to be twice as much work and half as much time to complete it in. This results in either extended periods of wakefulness or a decrease in sleep over an extended period of time. While some people may like to believe that they can train their bodies to not require as much sleep as they once did this belief is false (1). Sleep is needed to regenerate certain parts of the body, especially the brain, so that it may continue to function optimally. After periods of extended wakefulness or reduced sleep neurons may begin to malfunction, visibly effecting a person's behavior. Some organs, such as muscles, are able to regenerate even when a person is not sleeping so long as they are resting. This could involve lying awake but relaxed within a quite environment. Even though cognitive functions might not seem necessary in this scenario the brain, especially the cerebral cortex, is not able to rest but rather remains semi-alert in a state of "quiet readiness" (2). Certain stages of sleep are needed for the regeneration of neurons within the cerebral cortex while other stages of sleep seem to be used for forming new memories and generating new synaptic connections. The effects of sleep deprivation on behavior have been tested with relation to the presence of activity in different sections of the cerebral cortex.

One of the possible side effects of a continued lack of sleep is death. Usually this is the result of the fact that the immune system is weakened without sleep. The number of white blood cells within the body decreases, as does the activity of the remaining white blood cells. The body also decreases the amount of growth hormone produced (8). The ability of the body to metabolize sugar declines, turning sugar into fat. One study stated that people who sleep less than four hours per night are three times more likely to die within the next six years (11). Although the longest a human has remained awake was eleven days rats that are continually deprived of sleep die within two to five weeks, generally due to their severely weakened immune system (10), (11), (12)."

1) an article written by the military concerning sleep deprivation, on the Marine Corps University web site

2) Sleep Loss and Frontal Lobe Function, Loughborough Sleep Research Centre

8) Normal sleep and sleep deprivation, on emedicine website

9) Sleep Deprivation and Cognitive Function, Loughborough Sleep Research Centre

10) Brain Basics- Understanding Sleep, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes

11)a journalist's experience with sleep deprivation, men's journal website

**Pooks** · 03-09-2008, 12:21 PM

What is your PCT

Its kind of too late now.. but u might had wanted to consider HCG in addition to the PCT in this situation to make the ride a bit less bumpy.
The way u got it set up now.. and because of your crappy schedule.. its going to fall mostly on your genetics, diet, training and sleep to see how much u keep... if u end up pushing TIME OFF to over 3months..

**GPS226** · 03-09-2008, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Pooks

What is your PCT

Its kind of too late now.. but u might had wanted to consider HCG in addition to the PCT in this situation to make the ride a bit less bumpy.
The way u got it set up now.. and because of your crappy schedule.. its going to fall mostly on your genetics, diet, training and sleep to see how much u keep... if u end up pushing TIME OFF to over 3months..

My PCT is 3 weeks clomid/nolva: Day 1 200mg Clomid and 40mg Nolva, 100mg Clomid and 40mg Nolva ED for the rest of week 1. Weeks 2-3 50mg Clomid and 20mg Nolva ED. I already have my next cycle together and I may cut my off-cycle period a little short, depending on how I feel..or I may bridge with 3-4 weeks oral winstrol only to try to maintain if necessary. I'm thinking about cutting my off-cycle to 6 weeks, beginning at the end of PCT. Any advice on my near-future plans would be greatly appreciated.

**Maldorf** · 03-09-2008, 08:57 PM

Biggest thing I notice from lack of sleep and heavy training is an increase in the chance of getting sick. I get sick much easier, especially during PCT, when I dont get enough sleep.

PT · 03-10-2008, 05:05 AM

Originally Posted by GPS226

Hi there ya'll...I've got yet another question since I'm super paranoid about losing gains. First my stats, 23 years old 5'6" 176 BF 9%.. started PCT for my first cycle 3 days ago. It was a basic test-e and d-bol and I made very nice gains. So...I work 2 jobs and I've been short on sleep for quite awhile, preceding and including my cycle. It didn't seem to have an adverse effect on my gains, but I'm wondering if since now I'm in a catabolic state, if a lack of lots of sleep will have a heavy impact on my PCT and be a major factor in whether I can keep most of my gains.

on a average night how many hours of sleep would you say you get?

**taiboxa** · 03-10-2008, 06:15 AM

sleep is crucial for your immune system and tissue repair.. w/o it .. life just SUCKS

**double chicken** · 03-10-2008, 07:44 AM

Sleep is delicious. I am sleeping right now.

**GPS226** · 03-10-2008, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by pietro75

on a average night how many hours of sleep would you say you get?

I'd estimate an AVERAGE of 5 hours..I just woke up from a solid 7 hours of deep sleep, so i'm pretty stoked about that..but yeah, it gets rough and varies greatly, sometimes 2 hours, sometimes 7-8 hours. I never really tend to sleep more than that, even when my schedule allows me to. I'm currently 6 days into my PCT and haven't lost any weight at all..I've actually put on a pound or two. I'm sure it's fat since I'm eating like a savage, beastly, uncouth animal...but it's all good, I like putting on a little fat because it means I am definitely eating enough. Unless my body composition is changing and muscle is being rapidly replaced by fat..but I don't think that's happening. that would suck.

**Tri26** · 03-10-2008, 11:14 PM

speaking from experience and some research. lack of sleep will eventually kill your gains, your desire to train and your natural test levels. Youre young so you can slide a little bit. but in the long run it will wear you down. In the last year I changed schedules at work and had a baby. Im lucky to get 5 hours a night. and that is interrupted. since that time I have gone in the tank. body fat is up, ive been sick more than ever and my training suffered. it kills ya dude

PT · 03-11-2008, 03:44 AM

when i first joined this board peope told me i wouldnt grow because i only got 6-7 hours of sleep a night tops and i needed 9-10. obviously they were wrong and full of sh1t. i agree you do need sleep to grow but who has the time to get 10 hours a night? you would have to be an unemployed bumb with no life whatsoever. i can easily sleep 9 hours if it were possible but its not because i have to wake up for work every morning at 5am and i would have to go to bed at 8pm in order to get 9 hours. i usually go to bed around 10-11pm and im never tired during the day so thay must be the right amount of sleep for my body

**kostakv** · 03-11-2008, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by Maldorf

Biggest thing I notice from lack of sleep and heavy training is an increase in the chance of getting sick. I get sick much easier, especially during PCT, when I dont get enough sleep.

same for me, I got sick on pct after getting little sleep, now i seem to be getting sick again from no sleep, but i did get antibiotics and it cleared the acne from pct.

My best gains and the strongest id ever been were when i went back home from college for winter break and got tons of sleep.

**ChuckLee** · 03-11-2008, 07:43 AM

Arnold said: sleep at least 8 hours a day. I wish I could!

**kostakv** · 03-11-2008, 07:43 AM

i think coming off cycle kills the imune system or something.

**Maldorf** · 03-11-2008, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by kostakv

i think coming off cycle kills the imune system or something.

That it does, and not getting enough sleep compounds this effect to the point where you are almost guaranteed to get sick.

**The Deuce** · 03-11-2008, 12:18 PM

I make time to sleep... have to... it's a necessity just like eating... if you can't dedicate the right amount of sleep then you shouldnt be doing AAS. I am not saying don't do em.. but a lot of people preach that you shouldnt do AAS if you cant get your diet in check ... well i think the same thing would apply for sleep... am i right or wrong in thinking this????

**dece870717** · 03-11-2008, 12:23 PM

If I do not get a certain amount of sleep my workout that day ALWAYS sucks. And no energy supplement or drink can help me.

PT · 03-11-2008, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by The Deuce

I make time to sleep... have to... it's a necessity just like eating... if you can't dedicate the right amount of sleep then you shouldnt be doing AAS. I am not saying don't do em.. but a lot of people preach that you shouldnt do AAS if you cant get your diet in check ... well i think the same thing would apply for sleep... am i right or wrong in thinking this????

wow my man i do aas and i definatly dont get my 8-9 hours a night. let me ask you this, how would a person like me make time to sleep more. am i supposed to close my entire office down early because i have to go to bed earlier? am i supposed to go to bed at 7pm and leave my 2 year old son up by himself? am i supposed to tell my boss that i have to start work at 10am instead of 8am because some kid told me i need sleep? when you make it into the real world and have a importand job and i kid then you can come tell me what you think. would i like to sleep more? hell yea but its not even an option because i live a busy life and have way to many people that depend on me. when i was in college and my first class wasnt until 11am then i got 8 hours a night but those days are gone.