Napping - Blunders / Successes?

[Windex]

Just curious if anyone has read any sound or proven information about taking short naps throughout the day. Let's assume your eating every 3 hours, working out and doing cardio. By sleeping say 2 hours in between meals when you would otherwise be sedentary, are you doing your body any harm or gains? Lets also hypothetically assume your still getting your same hours of sleep at the night.

[gbrice75]

I nap whenever possible, but then again I only get 6 hours/night, tops. However, I see absolutely no harm in napping; IMO it can only do good. Rest = repair and new growth, and that's what we're really all here for.

The only stipulation I would make is that I would not nap immediately after a relatively high carb and/or fat meal. If you're going to nap within close proximity after a meal, i'd say ideally that meal would be a lean protein/veggie meal.

[Damienm05]

Sleep is an optimized state of recovery vs. just laying around. However, unless you're someone like GB who isn't already getting sufficient sleep during the night; it can do more harm than good and mess up your circadian rhythm. I know I always regret naps later that night.

[billyyb]

yeah sleep specialists dont recommend naps during the day as, like damien said, it affects ur quality of sleep during the night.

[gbrice75]

Sleep is an optimized state of recovery vs. just laying around. However, unless you're someone like GB who isn't already getting sufficient sleep during the night; it can do more harm than good and mess up your circadian rhythm. I know I always regret naps later that night.

This is an EXCELLENT point that I hadn't considered. I retract my statement about it doing nothing but good; Agreed, a straight night's sleep is WAY more beneficial than one broken up due to napping during the day.