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Speed round: schvitz or sleep?

Fri, Dec 10, 2010

MizFit Muzings, Sears Fit Club

(my wrinkled tank-top and the option I choose. both shocking I realize.)

Ok, People.

I know it’s a hectic time of year & none of us really have a moment to spare.

Im grateful that you’ve made time to drop by my neck of the neck & shall show said appreciation by cutting to the chase.

When your life becomes holiday-harried what do you choose: schvitz or sleep?

Sure in a perfect world we’d have time for plenty of both.

Yes Im hoping that come 2011 this perfect world shall become a reality.

Until then, with all the working-shopping-card addressing-partying attending-stress escalation, there appears (at least in my world) to be a need for a choice.

Im known for saying I find Im not markedly more tired if I get up 30 minutes early to exercise, yet I know many of you beg to differ.

And, as much as I erroneously like to believe Im always right, the more I researched the more the choice appeared to be a health-benefit toss-up.

Lemmie break it down.

Too little sleep can cause:

  • fatigue (shocking, I realize. We are all about the breaking!news! here at MizFitOnline)
  • daytime sleepiness
  • lowered productivity
  • clumsiness (ooh, perhaps that’s my problem?)
  • weight gain
  • sugar cravings
  • colds
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • MamaMiz to be less than her normal, patient, benign, sparking self.

The benefits of exercise (even short bouts!) include what most of us already know:

  • increased energy
  • reduced risk of getting sick/some cancers
  • lowered depression
  • lessened anxiety
  • improved overall sense of well-being
  • weight-loss
  • better sleep

(seriously. I know youre in a hurry so Ill sum it all up for you right here: Yep. Crap-shoot, People. I choose exercise, but there’s plenty of stuff in the PRO-column for selecting slumber as well)

**let the speed round commence**

That’s my question to you today:

What makes you feel best when you dont have time for everything?

When you’re forced to choose during this crazy jam-packed season whats your selection SCHVITZ or SWEAT?

Please to hit us all up quick, fast & in a hurry in the comments below.

This post is brought to you by the fit-minded Peeps at Sears Fit Club.  What pursuit they’re more likely to select—sleep or sweat—-only they can say….

Tags: , , , ,

63 Responses to “Speed round: schvitz or sleep?”

  1. Jo says:

    hmm, they’re mutually reinforcing for me. Sleep is a must-have, but decent exercise helps me to sleep well…

    Personally, I opt for ditching something else (the laundry, an extra hour of unpaid overtime or, dare I say it, blog reading!) to make sure there’s enough time for both sleep and exercise in my world every day.

  2. fd says:

    schvitz makes me feel best, but i always choose sleep. it also makes me feel better and is so much more up my street.

  3. Simply Cintia says:

    What a great question. When I don’t have time for everything what makes me feel good is making a commitment with myself to try to fit (exercise) another day of the week. Then I have to be at peace about it and at the same time look forward to that day. I guess I see it as setting yet another goal for myself. That’s what works for me. Finding peace is my key, no matter what.

  4. Tia says:

    I hate to say it Miz but these days I am about the SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP!!
    I need my rest and recovery time.

  5. Helen says:

    It all depends on the day for you.
    As you have detailed it is almost the same benefit-wise!

  6. Evan says:

    ALWAYS SWEAT!!!

  7. Reen says:

    I’ve been getting up earlier and it’s definitely helped me. I don’t exercise when I first get up though. since I work at home, I have the benefit to make my own schedule. So I get up earlier to squeeze more work in during the morning so that I ca get a workout in during the day.

    The workouts are A HUGE benefit for me. Gives me time for me, time to actually think about things when I’m not in a rush to handle three things at once, and I can actually focus on thinking about “one thing” at a time.

    And with a workout a day, I definitely feel better, think better, and SLEEP BETTER!

  8. Liza says:

    I tend toward being a very anxious person and exercise helps with that.

    Definitely schvitz (sp).

  9. Jennie says:

    SWEAT.

    Speaking of which….

  10. Cammy@TippyToeDiet says:

    When time is in short supply, I compromise on both. A little less exercise and a little less sleep is okay, but omitting too much of both leaves me cranky and making silly (yet remarkably tasty) choices.

  11. Brandi says:

    Sweating makes me sleep better.

    Choice made for me :)

  12. Larry says:

    Sleep.

    I try to get both but if I don’t sleep I can’t lift.

  13. Joanna Sutter says:

    I’m a girl that needs both, but needs sleep more and more.

  14. dragonmamma says:

    1/2 hour of extra sleep isn’t going to make that much difference; sweat for sure.

    I have a coffee mug that says YOU CAN SLEEP WHEN YOU’RE DEAD

  15. Ron says:

    I choose the opposite of what I should…. sleep, I need to change that.

  16. Heather says:

    I’m working to make it my new good habit to work out in the morning when I first wake up. I do find that it’s great to go through the day not feeling guilty that I haven’t exercised yet. I’m trying to go with that as my motivation. So far it is working.

  17. Laurie says:

    That’s a hard one and I have to say it depends on the day. But, knowing me and my “lazy by nature”, I’m going to have to say when push comes to shove: sleep.

  18. Staciezzzz says:

    Zzzzzzzzzzzz.

  19. Stacie says:

    Where is the tanktop from?

  20. Ryan @NoMoreBacon says:

    On this sleep deprived Friday I choose sleep. Most of the time I’m down with sweat though.

  21. Karen says:

    I love this!

    I choose sleep but should pick sweating.
    Sleep tends to make me even more lethargic.

  22. Helen DoingA180 says:

    Believe it or not, I try to keep balancing them. Sometimes being a really anal person who likes to stick to their schedule pays off!

  23. angela says:

    Sweat on the week days, sleep on the weekends! If I can’t pull that off I’ll just sweat.

  24. Tena says:

    I love this! And I needed to think about this, too. Sleep is never my strong suit. All my life I’ve fought sleep. But now my older wiser self is discovering that I need sleep - as much as I can get. But here’s the tricky part, if I don’t get some exercise, I’m too tense to sleep. So, schvitz it is :)

    As always, Carla, I appreciate your support. You have a way with helping others feel less like misfits (cute, huh?)

  25. Thalia says:

    I always pick sweat.
    Perhaps I SHOULD sleep more :)

  26. Karen says:

    I’m finding time for both and cutting back on the holiday stuff I might normally spend time on. Like… shopping. (Thank you, Amazon.)

  27. JavaChick says:

    I am useless if I don’t get enough sleep. Ideally, I try to make sure I’m getting a little bit of exercise - even 20 minutes of yoga before bed - because regular exercise helps me sleep better. But…I. Must. Have. Sleep. Just ask my husband. :)

  28. Cathy says:

    If it is in the morning I would definetly choose sweat, but if it is later in the day I will choose sleep.

  29. melissa @ the delicate place says:

    oh i sleep, if i don’t get it i’m a cranky bear! i’ve also been making time for 20-30mins exercise in the morning after i wake the last 2 weeks. i think it’s been helpful!

  30. Sagan says:

    Totally depends on my mood.

    Lately I’ve been more focused on getting plenty of sleep. The “exercise” I’ve been doing has been limited to a little bit of walking (sometimes only 30 minutes in the day), and doing some light strength training or yoga a few times each week.

  31. Kelly Happy Texan says:

    Yay! A new word to add to my vocabulary. And I did have to look it up to see what you were talking about. :D

    Lately I’ve been making time for schvitz no matter what time that may be. It’s been working. If I’m so busy that I can’t take a schvitz (LOL that sounds funny) then I need to trim my activities.

    No stress this year. Won’t let it happen. Even when the schvitz hits the fan.

    (Love this new word)

  32. FatFighterTV says:

    Well… I do adore my sleep… and I find that I eat less when I am sleeping. haha

  33. Hollie says:

    A different S?
    Stretch.

  34. JourneyBeyondSurvival says:

    I chose sleep today. But Chickadee is on the upswing from #nosleepville so I should be BAAAAACK for a couple of months to ‘sweat’ soon

  35. Runeatrepeat says:

    I make monthly goals and every month for the last few I’ve been including: Get 8 hours of sleep. I need it. We all need it, especially during the busy and very germ-y season!

  36. deb roby says:

    I’m with Jo (#1) - I’d rather skimp on something else -cook a really fast supper, let the laundry sit another day, catch up on blogs and SM another time- and get both in.

    Though I will admit that with my gym located at a shopping mall the day immediately before and after the xmas I will avoiding the place. (if only I had the discipline to workout at home).

    Sadly what often sufferes is the dog’s exercise- and they need it as much (if not more) than I do.

  37. messymimi says:

    I’m blessed that i can sweat while working, getting intervals in as i go about my daily business.

    If i had to choose, it would have to be sweat, and nap for a half hour at lunch.

  38. Jennifer@ knackfornutrition says:

    Where did you get that tanktop?? I need to buy that for my mom for Hannukah! That is so great!!!

  39. Joe says:

    S
    L
    E
    E
    P.

  40. charlotte says:

    Schvitz all the way! (for some reason that feels wrong typing that…)

  41. Mandy says:

    Yesterday I chose sleep because I was not really functioning without it. I’ve had a week of crappy sleep and I couldn’t do anything else. I slept and slept. Today I will get out there and exercise, feeling functional again.

    I’m working on the balance and harmony in my life. Sometimes it calls out for a day off and other times, that call out needs to be ignored because I need the workout!

  42. Jody - Fit at 53 says:

    You are too funny & handing out important info at the same time!

    Most of the time I sweat because it is what it is with me & I like it for stress relief. Sometimes the sweat works better than the sleep. I know I may change this one day but for now, 99% of the time it is sweat even if I have to shorten the workout.

  43. Shelley B says:

    I don’t sleep much so I guess I automatically choose schvitz. But if I had the choice (meaning I didn’t wake up 12 times a night but actually slept through), I’d give myself a couple of good sleep-in days but otherwise force myself to get up and move.

  44. Peggy says:

    When life gets crazy it could go either way. If my body sends signals that it must sleep or become ill, then I sleep. If I have become anxious or fidgety or stressed or any combination of the three, excercise is my choice. It’s all about listening to what your body needs that day and making sure to get. If somethings gotta give around here, it’s the Christmas cards.

  45. Pubsgal says:

    Both. Like others have mentioned, schvitz and sleep are both high priority, and other stuff gets the axe. What would I choose right this second? [head thumps on desk] Zzzzzzzz….

  46. Quix says:

    Depends. If I feel like I’m just dragging a little, maybe didn’t sleep well the night before, and I don’t feel like working out will injure me, I’ll do it. If I am exhausted and feel like working out will do more harm than good, I either tone it down or rest.

    Running pretty much knocks me out, I don’t have much choice. If I don’t sleep, I can’t run. So I sleep!

  47. Patrick says:

    Hmmm, dont have time for everything?
    Well slowly I am coming to see the benefits of exercise on stress and energy. The old me would find revival in a burrito with a side of burrito. At least I found temprary euphoria and escape in two-fisting burritos. The effects were short lived and soon the stress returned and a few extra pounds joined me as well.

  48. Yum Yucky says:

    Sometimes I sweat while sleeping. But I think it’s my age. Either that, or I need to use less covers. And somehow I feel like this is not answering the question. :/

  49. Maria (RealFitMama) says:

    I’m a 50/50 girl. I plan on getting up Mon-Fri at 5:30 and getting in my sweat session before the girls get up, but on occasion I just got too little sleep that I feel for my body, my sanity and my children’s safety I need that extra hour of sleep so I will skip the sweat session. That is not the norm though and I KNOW that I feel better after a good morning work out so I make sure I get it in at least 4 mornings a week.:)

  50. Jessica says:

    Today? SLEEP.

  51. Kerri O says:

    OK, I’m the weird one, I generally always have time for both..yes I get up at 4:30 or 5 to workout, but I’m also always in bed for my full 8 hours no matter how early. I’ve given myself permission not to bake or send christmas cards this year, meh, I’m just one not to get over-busy.

  52. addy says:

    Exercise is my first coice. Though sometimes sleep wins….

  53. Geosomin says:

    Most days sweat. But the odd day when I’ve really been up late doing stuff I sleep. 1 day off here and there won’t hurt.

  54. Tricia says:

    I choose sleep. Why? Mainly because I find my coordination (which is kind of bad to begin with! lol Just call me klutz) gets worse. Do I really want to try step or weights when I’m dropping my pen and walking into the door frames at work already?

    Smarter choice, get some sleep. The next day will be better and workout then!

  55. Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul says:

    It may be a cop-out answer but I strive to balance both. I guess if pushed I’d say workout, though it becomes increasingly more difficult in bizzard conditions when it’s still dark out.

  56. Georgia says:

    Where on earth is that amazing tank from? I think I *need* one! :)

  57. KK @ Running Through Life says:

    Exercise!!! That makes me feel better when I am in one of my moods/funks!

  58. Heather says:

    Most of the time, I’ll axe something else so I can exercise AND sleep.

    If that’s not possible, I’ll go with exercise (because being that busy has undoubtedly made me stressed, which exercise will help but sleep will not) UNLESS I feel myself getting sick, in which case, sleep trumps all.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Tweets that mention Speed round: schvitz or sleep? | MizFitOnline -- Topsy.com - 10. Dec, 2010

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gretchen Glasscock, Gretchen Glasscock. Gretchen Glasscock said: Speed round: schvitz or sleep?: (my wrinkled tank-top and the option I choose. both shocking I realize.) Ok, Peo… http://bit.ly/f7Ti36 [...]

  2. Tweets that mention Sleep or sweat? Which is better for our bodies? | MizFitOnline -- Topsy.com - 10. Dec, 2010

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by carla birnberg, carla birnberg. carla birnberg said: SPEED ROUND: which do u pick: sleep or sweat? GO! http://tinyurl.com/2aldxzb #fitblog #sfcfit [...]

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