Pre-competition insomnia

[KShan5[PrFC]]

Eat Turkey. Eat turkey before you go to bed. Because in turkey their is a weak narcotic (the name slips my mind right now) that makes you sleepy. And turkey tastes very good.

[Inquartata]

Tryptophan. Sounds like something Superman should be way of...

I have known coaches ( lots of them Russian, go figure ) who advise that instead of trying to sleep you should go out drinking the night before...

In any case, a drink or two can't hurt, alcohol being a depressant. Anything that will help you stop "fencing in your head" all night...

[JEC]

"to be fully informed you should also know that there have been no comprehensive clinical studies evaluting its effects long term (if any). Using Melatonin for occasional pre-competition insomnia is one thing, but frequent and/or continual use might have consequences that we don't know about."

mfp,
Although I agree with your statement, I need to indicate that the long term effects of more than 95% of what we do, eat, smell, being exposed (and even drive) are not well studied or known. We eat milk (cheese or other products) with bovine growth factor whether it is labeled or not. We eat apples that were selected genetically (with or without fancy genetic engineering; Mendelian principles are enough). We smell perfumes and use organic soaps (some not even tested in animals for acute/chronic issues). We drive automobiles that make toxic fumes. Even within prescription medicines, there are many unknowns. For example, recently a mid-term (4 yr) study of hormonal supplements in postmenopausal women showed no benefits and potential increases in several types of risk after daily use for several years. However, the recommendation that I'm being told by colleagues is that it is indicated for symptomatic treatment for less than 4 yrs. Bottom line, the occasional oral use of 3-6 mg of Melatonin, which would be digested into simple plain amino acids including tryptophan like any other protein ingested, before bedtime is likely to be inconsequential. I have considerable experience in its use, and rather prefer using it along with sleep hygiene than any other medication.

[edew]

Tryptophan, melatonin, alcohol,...

What I've found is a good bout of sex makes sleeping afterwards quite easy.

That's how they do it in the NBA, ain't it?

[haggis]

I find a balanced approach to sleep the best. A reasonable quantity (by Russian standards) of Inquartata's suggestion, a healthy bout of Edew's recommendation and, combined correctly, the various chemical suggestions and voila!! Sleep, sleep, sleep. Unfortunately, the next day I find it almost impossible to wake up and when I do I fence like s**t. So what do you want?

Sleeping's over-rated if you ask me. Especially the night before competition, four hours is plenty. If I'm well rested in the week running up to the competition that seems far more important to my performance in the event.

[edew]

Oh yeah. I didn't want to imply that good sex and good sleep result in good athletic performance the next day. Just that if you want good sleep, good sex prior to sleeping works wonders.

Course, in some people's cases, the dog might be restless for the remainder of the night.

[veeco]

Actually, I can't help but remember a quote from the movie Rocky:

"Women weaken the legs!".

Don't know about dogs though.

The reason why sex makes men sleep is because it triggers the release of a hormone in the blood stream which makes men feel sleepy.

[edew]

Originally posted by veeco
Actually, I can't help but remember a quote from the movie Rocky:

"Women weaken the legs!".

Don't know about dogs though.

The reason why sex makes men sleep is because it triggers the release of a hormone in the blood stream which makes men feel sleepy.

I think that "women weaken legs" claim only apply to boxing. And tennis. What seems to work well in fencing is to have a good looking woman sit behind you, in a short skirt, flashing the opponent by crossing and re-crossing her legs. Don't know why. Maybe she's giving out some weird pheromones to help make you fence better.

[JEC]

It should be predicted that a ballet work-out the day before would also improve Edew's performance ... in the strip.

[135711]

Originally posted by edew
I think that "women weaken legs" claim only apply to boxing. And tennis. What seems to work well in fencing is to have a good looking woman sit behind you, in a short skirt, flashing the opponent by crossing and re-crossing her legs. Don't know why. Maybe she's giving out some weird pheromones to help make you fence better.

Could be, but it could backfire. Actually, I've discovered in fencing the boyz, that there is really no time for flirting, none whatsoever, and if you kid yourself into thinking they're flirting back YOU"LL LOSE......hahahahahahahahahahhah!
and that's become men have another hormone left over from:darwin.