One thing that children and bullying adults have in common is their inability to relax and sleep. Unless sleep is used as a kind of escape, deep rest is often difficult for the beleaguered.
I know that as a child, I had constant nightmares listening to my mother and stepfather arguing. I got to the point of being afraid to sleep. Later, I liked the fatigue as it insulated the pain and monotony of high school. It got worse when he worked late or early in the morning. My school grades suffered and so did my health.
(Of course, when you’re super attentive to drunken stepdads and high school bullies, you have a hard time relaxing.)
Despite how much I ate, I couldn’t seem to gain much muscle. It wasn’t until years later, when I became more independent and confident, that I was able to rest and sleep more soundly and gain more muscle weight. I was also able to concentrate better. So later I went to college and would really remember what I was supposed to do.
Rest is often ignored by those who are in a hurry to lose weight, gain muscle, finish school, or learn how to defend themselves. That’s often because the adrenaline glands are clogged. Trust me this time.
To support this theory, I read about a study in Montreal, Canada, in 1958, where school children were on meal programs and generally ate about the same amount of food. Fairly consistently, children from high-stress families were almost always underweight and tired.
Well this was a relief when I realized I wasn’t a total idiot. My mind couldn’t process the information while stuck in survival mode most of the time.
So what does this mean for you, my friends, who might be struggling with being overweight or underweight (too much cortisol due to stress)?
It means that to achieve greater muscle gains, burn fat and improve concentration, you must include rest and sleep in your routine. If you’ve completed your school course load and are working two jobs, then it’s time for some serious rescheduling, as lack of sleep can ruin your school grades, your ability to earn a living, and your relationships.
I used to work 12-18 hour days all summer long and then come home to school and/or work and be tired and restless for about three weeks as my mind and body tried to recover from the hectic pace of work. training with the army reserves. Sleep is nature’s usurer. You will collect that payback period eventually.
Train hard. But, give yourself that well-deserved rest and sleep. Your mind and body will thank you.