Sleep and athletic performance

To achieve elite athletic levels, it takes a lot of concentrated effort and time spent training. So make sure you don't waste your time or effort by not getting enough sleep at night. While we are sleeping are bodies are recovering and building muscle, contrary to popular knowledge we build muscle while we are sleeping and recovering, not while working out in the gym. You can never get to much sleep, but we need to make sure that we get at least 8 hours a night each and every night, not 11 hours tonight and 5 hours tomorrow. We need to keep it consistent because sleep cannot be banked up and used later. To make sure we get enough sleep, here's a few tips.

1. Time management is key. If its between sleep and the laundry, procrastinate and do the laundry tomorrow. Make sure to keep sleep high on your priority list, its just as important as the time spent training.

2. Spend about 30 minutes relaxing before bed, this can be achieved by taking a shower/bath, or reading a book. This will help you wind down and ensure a deeper sleep.

3. Maintain a normal sleeping pattern, try going to bed and waking up at the same time everyday.

4. Don't drink any water before going to bed, it will cause you to have to get up in the middle of the night and pee.

5. If your schedule allows it, take a nap.

While rebuilding torn and damaged muscles, our body is working hard and has to draw energy from somewhere. That energy source is none other than our body fat. So by getting the right amount of sleep you are burning fat and building muscle. Sounds like a great by-product if you ask me.