Fitbit Sleep analysis

(Vladaar Malane) #1

So, I hear these things aren’t that accurate, but it’s odd how terrible my sleep seems to be. Well not too odd, considering how tired I am in the morning. My weekdays I usually tend to 6 hours sleep, so I guess I need to try to get closer to 7.

Last night I only got 5 hours and 59 minutes. This is the breakdown it told me.

Awake 13% 56 minutes
REM 26% 1 hour 48 minutes
Light 59% 4 hours and 5 minutes
Deep 6 minutes

Yeah not so hot, I was tired as crap this morning. It says people get less deep sleep the older they get. I’m 45, but 6 minutes isn’t enough. I might pop a melatonin tonight and see what results I get. I know Dr. Fung says lack of sleep can affect your weight loss. I’m sure many other doctors say that as well, I just have the appearance of a Dr. Fung fanboy, because that’s the only serious book I read the Obesity Code, besides Dr. William Davis’s Wheat Belly book.

I’m on day four of a water fast too, so probably need that sleep more than normal.

(Allie) #2

The 6 mins deep sleep is the biggest concern for sure. Do you have an evening routine before bed?

The book by this guy is well worth a read too.

(Jamie) #3

I can’t point you to some science on this, but I can share my experience. While sleep trackers like Fitbit may not be perfect tools, I do believe they are helpful tools that empower folks to take control of their health.

I’ve used my sleep tracker–first a Microsoft Band/Band2 and now a Fitbit Blaze–to help learn about my sleep and make adjustments. Using them for self experimentation, I have learned that I need to go to bed and wake on a more consistent schedule. That was a big factor. I have also learned that I need about 7 hours of actual sleep to feel my best the following day. To do that, I need to be in bed for about eight hours. I tend to be awake for about an hour during sleep time–I wake a lot, particularly in the second half of the night.

I have sleep apnea. I’ve been using a machine for about 10 years. Years after the initial diagnosis and using the machine, I was still tired. The sleep doctor couldn’t offer much outside of adding meds to help me go to sleep (Ambien) and meds to help me wake and stay alert the next day. That was frustrating as I did not want to be dependent on medication. I turned down the meds and gave up on the doc. A few years later, the sleep trackers came along and helped me complete the puzzle.

I’d focus on improving the quality of your sleep–consistent schedule, time in bed to extend length of sleep, lower stimulus before bedtime, etc. I’d also have a sleep study done if you haven’t already.

As for fasting, I find I sleep better when fasting than when eating my normal LCHF way. I do 4-5 day fasts from time to time and get some of my best sleep during them.

Good luck!