Up in the Middle of the Night

[Imahikergirl]

We got a verandah room because I normally wake up around dawn. I found I was okay outside at that time of day, but I brought my bathrobe and slippers. I did a dream cruise in early March. (This trip I am getting the romance for 2 package so I don't have to pack ours). The coffee shop wasn't open when I was first awake, it opened at 6:30 - I'd read that the coffee on deck was not good, so I stuck with the paid kind (with the Fanatic card!).

I used to be constantly awake for hours in the middle of the night. I started drinking Yogi brand Bedtime tea as I'd read that valerian root could help. It has helped tremendously for me. I'm up at dawn but well rested.

I hope you enjoy your cruise.

 

[m3owbox]

We got a verandah room because I normally wake up around dawn. I found I was okay outside at that time of day, but I brought my bathrobe and slippers. I did a dream cruise in early March. (This trip I am getting the romance for 2 package so I don't have to pack ours). The coffee shop wasn't open when I was first awake, it opened at 6:30 - I'd read that the coffee on deck was not good, so I stuck with the paid kind (with the Fanatic card!).

I used to be constantly awake for hours in the middle of the night. I started drinking Yogi brand Bedtime tea as I'd read that valerian root could help. It has helped tremendously for me. I'm up at dawn but well rested.

I hope you enjoy your cruise.

Fanatic card?

 

[Sir William]

Periodically, I wake up about 2-3am and can't get back to sleep. It's happened a few times while cruising and I just grab my Kindle and find a corner somewhere to read for an hour or so. There are usually CM about cleaning and doing maintenance, and invariably a ship's officer stops by to make sure I'm OK.

 

[pacey]

@pacey: on a sidenote.... have you been checked for sleep apnea?

I just asked my doc about it and he assures me that I don't. Maybe overdosing on caffeine. Will take the advise of another post and try cutting way, way down.
Can fall asleep like a champ, but 4 hours later I'm up, bright eyed and bushy tailed!

 

[pacey]

For me, waking up at the crack of stupid was due to being a couch potato. I had plenty of sleep and never tired waking up so early. I met with a sleep specialist and he said before he would do any tests that I need to start exercising and losing weight. He said once I drop 25Lbs and I still don't sleep later he would start looking at other things. Although I have only been exercising for 2 weeks now (the start of the Fat Man 500), I am sleeping closer to 6-8 hours a night vs 4-5 hours before.

Now, if you want to know about the Fat Man 500, it is walking a 5k every day for the next 5 months. That will be close to 500 miles. The doc said I will easily be down 25lbs, if not more. My sleeping will be better. My cholesterol and ever so slightly higher than normal blood pressure will get back to normal levels. I will have more energy and feel better as well. Plus, it will get me closer to where I want to be when I do get to go on a DCL cruise.

Just lost 20 lbs myself, so I'm now 130 at 5'6". Thanks for thinking of that though. I walk about that much around 5 days a week too and it feels so much better than too much lounging! Good for you for losing your weight!

 

[Imahikergirl]

Fanatic card?

On your first visit to Cove Café, you can ask for a fanatic card. You buy 5 and the 6th is free. You can carryover anything unused to your next cruise, I keep mine in my Cruise Planning Binder.

 

[Racer X]

Interesting.. a quick google search of "Fatman 500" yielded no such results. Lots of odd links but no excercise program. Sounds like your Dr. made it up for his patients.

 

[aggiedog]

Really, your first post in this thread is to diss someone's weight loss plan? It's a great way to think about getting fit, regardless of where the idea originated. Geesh.

 

[phinz]

I'm usually up until the early risers start wandering the halls. (It's not unusual for me to be up until 4, even at home, and then sleep until 11 or noon) I can assure you there are a *lot* of places to just sit and relax. I do a lot of night time photography, walk the Promenade, watch the maintenance crew pressure washing the decks, listen to the music that's playing in the public areas and just enjoy the fact that I have the entire place to myself.

 

[Racer X]

Really, your first post in this thread is to diss someone's weight loss plan? It's a great way to think about getting fit, regardless of where the idea originated. Geesh.

Indeed, any excercise program is positive. That wasn't my point. It sounded interesting, so i looked it up. I don't take anything for face value.

 

[Hundredacre]

I am actually amazed at how empty Disney's ships are in the middle of the night. Disney cruisers are not late night people. But I have also found that disney cruisers are not early risers. Virtually empty at 5 am too. Maybe five other people out at that time on my last cruise. Nothing better than rolling around on deck at "forbidden" times. It's all you.

 

[lbus42]

I am actually amazed at how empty Disney's ships are in the middle of the night. Disney cruisers are not late night people. But I have also found that disney cruisers are not early risers. Virtually empty at 5 am too. Maybe five other people out at that time on my last cruise. Nothing better than rolling around on deck at "forbidden" times. It's all you.

Yes, not too many at 6am either.

 

[mevelandry]

I just asked my doc about it and he assures me that I don't. Maybe overdosing on caffeine. Will take the advise of another post and try cutting way, way down.
Can fall asleep like a champ, but 4 hours later I'm up, bright eyed and bushy tailed!

It's not going to be easy... You'll have to take steps. But It's doable.

 

[MUN]

It's not going to be easy... You'll have to take steps. But It's doable.

Have you tried quitting caffeine altogether?

MUN

 

[RedSox68]

You can even sit on the promenade deck and enjoy the great loungers and watch the sea go by!

Otherwise, order room service coffee before you go to bed -- it stays hot until the next morning -- that way you don't have to go up on deck. You can pour your coffee and go to your balcony. Ask for half and half -- half decaf and half caf -- that way you can start to wean off of 100% caffeine. I order it that way because full caffeine gives me the shakes.

 

[Dug720]

Have you tried quitting caffeine altogether?

MUN

Yep. At least it seems pretty clear to me from this post earlier in the thread that she has indeed cut caffeine all together.

Good tip. Not a Dr but I've had trouble with sleeping in the past: the doc told me to cut everything that contained cafeine from my diet, (even in the morning), avoid stimulation like computers/iPad helps (something with the light coming out of them apparently gives the brain a signal to stay awake). Also, being entertained is not helping.

My suggestion would probably to go lie down in the Quiet Cove or the balcony if you have one, to watch the sea (if it's not too dark), hear the sound of the waves crashing on the cruiseship + the rocking of the ship might help you be in a very relaxed state of mind that might help you go back to sleep.

So it is probably experience here: "It's not going to be easy... You'll have to take steps. But It's doable."

It *IS* possible. It's easier if you CAN do it slowly - the headaches if you go cold turkey are RIDICULOUS but much more manageable if you go a little at a time. Hence... "steps".

 

[BigredNole]

Interesting.. a quick google search of "Fatman 500" yielded no such results. Lots of odd links but no excercise program. Sounds like your Dr. made it up for his patients.

Its not a real thing. We are in NASCAR Country. He said that jokingly as we talked. He said 3 miles a day, every day, for 5 months will be almost 500 miles. He said if I do that, I should easily lose 5 LBs per month if not more. I have only been doing it for 3 weeks now and not every day. Weather, pinched nerve, and pain have been impacting. He said it is normal and I will slowly get more accustomed to it. It takes about an hour to walk 3.5 miles now. As my body gets use to it, it will slowly climb. He said you start to notice small things at first, long before any size changes. Sleeping better is first, followed by lower resting heart rate, being happier, and wanting to eat less garbage food. I have only eaten fast food 2 times in the last 2 months from eating it 4-5 times a week, sometimes multiple times a day.

 

[BigredNole]

double post

 

[mevelandry]

Yep. At least it seems pretty clear to me from this post earlier in the thread that she has indeed cut caffeine all together.



So it is probably experience here: "It's not going to be easy... You'll have to take steps. But It's doable."

It *IS* possible. It's easier if you CAN do it slowly - the headaches if you go cold turkey are RIDICULOUS but much more manageable if you go a little at a time. Hence... "steps".

Not my own experience but close family members have caffeine addiction. They never really stopped but reduced their consumption a lot and it wasn't easy for them.

 

[mevelandry]

Have you tried quitting caffeine altogether?

MUN

Not my own experience but family members (drinking coffee day and night).

As for myself, I did not drink much coffee (not a fan) but have been drinking colas and noticed most sleepless nights happened when I drank a cola before noon.