Tuesday was a long day. For whatever reason, Tuesdays have been the longest day of my week since starting this full-time fitness thing over two years ago.
I come prepared. I have a 6 a.m. client on Tuesdays (that is about to get even earlier…I’m picking up a 5:30!!!!!) so yesterday I rolled in with not one, but two to-go mugs of coffee. I was pouring my coffee at home and got a little sad when it all didn’t fit into one. I didn’t want the rest to go to waste so I decided to go with the double-fist.
I ate a quick breakfast that I packed the night before between my client and teaching the 8:10 yoga class at Y2. I made overnight oats with oats, 2% greek yogurt, coconut milk, dried cranberries, lots of chia seeds, cinnamon, apples and bananas and topped it with pumpkin and sunflower seed butter. I loved the extra chia seeds for their texture.
I taught class, took class and then knocked out some work at my desk before picking up a salad to take to a lunch meeting. Not sure why the salmon looks so tiny in proportion to my fork but this was a whole box of salad and a good four ounces of salmon. I have been loving pine nuts on my salads lately.
My snack was the BEST flavor of Luna Bar, Chocolate Dipped Coconut. I ate this at my desk while doing major reorganization of all my files and information. I broke for a quick CrossFit WOD with lots of deadlifts and v-ups an then taught yoga at the gym.
I was so ready for dinner when I finally got home just before 8 (that was 14 hours away from the house in one day :() so I prepped it, got it in the oven and took a hot shower to decompress. The dinner menu for the night was one of my all-time favorite recipes, especially for fall, Spiced Chicken.
I first blogged about this chicken on my recipe blog but I’ve also tried it with chicken breasts and blogged about it on Peanut Butter Runner too. Check out the post with the recipe. You make a homemade spice rub of cumin, coriander, chili powder, cinnamon and other spices and then generously rub the chicken with olive oil and the spices. You make an easy pan sauce with the drippings. It’s so good and so comforting. Last night I served it with sweet potato gnocchi and roasted broccoli.
After some time on the couch relaxing and unwinding I was done and in bed by 10 p.m. Unfortunately, I had TERRIBLE sheet soaking night sweats last night (I’ve had them since high school) so sleep wasn’t particularly restful. Like to the point where I had to lay a separate blanket over the sheets and change clothes. What has been up with my sleep patterns lately!? I still woke up feeling good and energized this morning and Wednesday is off to an awesome start.
Does anyone else experience night sweats? I’ve been tested for everything by my doctors over the year and they can’t identify the cause. I’ve had them for so long that I’m just resigned to live with them. Luckily it’s not an every night thing and seems to come in waves. Probably hormonal as most things are for us girls! 🙂
Off to lunch. Have a great day!
Have you ever had your estrogen level tested a few times throughout your cycle? I ask this because I am very athletic as well and that drives your estrogen way down and unless you’re on HRT you may have a form of female athlete triad…I’ve suffered from those night sweats as well…its like menopause!
I’m curious about this, too. I had HORRIBLE night sweats (similar to what you described above) for a few years in my mid-20s. I know (via blood tests) that my estrogen/progesterone balance was completely out of whack. I now use an essential oil blend with wild yam that has helped balance things out.
Yep! I’m 22 and have the estrogen of a 50 year old according to my gyno. He wants me on HRT and I am not into putting it into my body because it screwed me up badly before physically and emotionally and when i had periods, made them awful. I worry about developing osteoperosis as I am very active but a healthy weight, just have low body fat and more lean muscle but no period…definitely the night sweats and other signs of menopause…not fun to have it at 22 so I am looking to find more natural treatments to balance hormones and will look into the wild yam blend! thanks 🙂
Almost never comment, but I had the same thing happen to me last night! I have been tested for so many things over the years and just like you it always comes in waves. I can’t always tell when I will get them but I am almost guaranteed at least two bad nights right before my cycle, so I agree with your hormonal theory! I will be watching the comments to see if anyone has solutions!
I have battled them for YEARS and I am 42 now. I have been told it’s most likely adrenal overload, I am sure some has to do with hormones too though. I did notice that I cut out gluten for about 5 months and they got better, but who knows? I would love to find out how to “cure” this. My hands are constantly sweaty too 🙁
I have them too! Lately they have been in conjunction with nightmares that I can’t remember for the life of me! VERY excited for my current wave to end … I miss my full nights of sleep!
I’m the same as you liz when i have a nightmare i get sweats quite badly. i’ve noticed that i need to go to bed with less pj’s than i want to so that i am almost cold when i go to sleep and it reduces it for me. I’ve noticed oddly that if i have a really bad nightmare my entire body is sweaty but if i’m just dreaming maybe just my head under my hair (long hair) or my back. no dreams = no sweats for me. and i have no idea why sometimes i have a bad dream and other times i dont. i haven’t been able to pin point it other than stress = dreams for me.
I’m so glad it’s not just me who has them for no apparent reason – at least that the doctor’s can find. I am always freezing during the day but a heater at night. TMI, but I don’t even sleep all that many clothes on at all and it doesn’t matter if I set the thermostat to 50 degrees – I ALWAYS sweat. I tried switching birth control pills to see if it was hormonal but that didn’t do a thing.
Wow what a crazy day! For some reasons Tuesday’s are always my worst day too! I always try to just get through it though yesterday wasn’t quite as bad. A 5:30 client!?! You are awesome! Good luck!!
Sounds like a busy day but when I am busy those days seem to fly by the fastest, but doesn’t make me any less tired lol
I will get night sweats as well where I am freezing but wake up sweating like a banshee!
Also, those chocolate dipped coconut Luna bars are my absolute fave! They taste just like a macaroon!
Days like that kill me….in fact today (Wednesday is like that for me….4:30am-7:00pm). I get night sweats, too and it’s due to low estrogen levels. HRT helps that significantly.
I totally think it is a woman thing and dare I say it is because we are getting OLDER and our hormones are chaining…UGH! I absolutely LOVE the texture that chia seeds bring to my breakfast and they help me stay full during a busy morning or hard workout.
Occasional night sweats, usually if I have more than one glass of red wine, but maybe also for hormonal reasons, not sure.
The coconut is my favorite Luna bar, my Walmart sells them in a six pack. I also like the nuts over cranberry, it doesn’t have an icing and is less messy to eat and tastes good, but they don’t sell it in any stores around here.
I’m glad you mentioned the sweats because I get them, too, and was wondering if I was the only one! Seems to be hormonal, but only appeared in the last few years or so. Maybe another lovely side effect of being in our 30’s?! If anyone has any advice/solutions, I’m all ears!
I’ve also heard that heavy sweating at night can just mean you are dreaming a lot! Active during the day AND the night.
i must be doing hot yoga in my sleep then!!! haha
Wild! Finally someone else that has night sweats. I didn’t have them until I had my two kiddos. I am 34 so I don’t think it is menopause. They are terrible. Not as bad as when I was breast feeding though. I would have to change clothes ALL the time in the night. They suck. I always wondered if maybe it had to do with dehydration? I don’t know. My doctor kind of blew it off as nothing.
Poor thing! I can’t stand those kinds of nights. I
It could be just one of those things, some people sweat excessively during sleep. Provided you don’t have any known illnesses, and aren’t taking medications and supplements (such as prednisone or Niacin) I’d try to exclude 1. Nocturnal hypoglycaemia (sugar test at night, or just try to eat more complex carbs such as pasta, rice and potatoes in the evening), 2. Hyperthyroidism or adrenal gland problems, 3. Autonomic neuropathy.
I hope it helps! I’d start with carbs for dinner, though 😀
Years ago I was exercising twice daily and my body fat was too low—I would periodically have the same symptoms you’ve mentioned. When I learned to tone things down (and gained a little fat) the problem completely disappeared. You are so high energy and on the go, it may be impacting your adrenals which messes with estrogen.
that’s a good point nicole. but i’ve had night sweat for over 12 years now, several consecutive days each month, no matter what my activity level..still a good point to consider and discuss with my doctor though. thank you!
I’ve gotten night sweats for years and so has my husband! We’ve noticed a pattern, when we’re over-tired, fighting sickness or have had a particularly exertive workout, we sweat throughout the night. My husband went through a complicated time period in which he soaked the sheets every single night for months, he was particularly sick then and it was my understanding that sweat helps the body heal. Excessive sweat amounts to needing extra energy from the body to fight sickness in my opinion! A 14 hour work day is a really long day, it’s no wonder you were sweating up a storm! Hope that helps you out a little bit:)
I have a comment that’s not related to night sweats at all. It chia seeds! I LOVE them in oats, homemade granola bars, and on salads but I hate them getting stuck between my teeth. I have to brush and floss as soon as I eat or else it is black speckled smiles! NOT CUTE!
I just love your blog!
No real night sweat experience. I’ve occasionally gotten cortisone shots for my knees and the sweaty is always awful the night of the injection, so I feel for you.
Love the double fist coffee, been there too. Also, you have great legs (sorry if that sounds weird — just think they are a good balance of muscle vs. shape).
Ps. I remembered in the shower (where I do most of my thinking) if western medicine can’t find the answer, try a traditional Chinese medicine specialist (a good one, preferably a dual graduate, western and Chinese, who speaks Chinese) because they have a really weird way of making annoying problems go away with herbs and acupuncture. Good luck! 🙂
Yes! Chinese Medicine! I suffer from night sweats occasionally too, and when they hit they hit hard! Several changes of clothes per night, and sometimes I even need to move to the couch. I always figured it was from UC or medications until I started acupuncture/herbal formuals. Acupuncture literally took care of them after two sessions. When I took a 5-week break from treatments, the sweats came back. Then it only took one treatment to make them go away again. Now I’m curious about this hormonal thing too, because TMI I never get my period (maybe 1-2 times per year). I’m not on any type of hormone therapy (and I refuse to be). I often wonder if it’s an adrenal/hormonal imbalance but my doctors never seem concerned…
Glad to know I’m not the only one out there!! (With the night sweats) my family wants to kill me cause mid winter (in the northeast mind you) I still keep my window open for the coldness
To try and prevent sweating. Even when its -5 degrees and my room is prob 20 degrees I still sweat. I go to bed all bundled and freezing but mid night wake up so sweaty. It’s so annoying!! Ice tried everything from cooling sheets to avoiding sugar before bed (some claim that contributes to it) but nothing works. Ps random note- I am so jealous of your job! I know you are always super busy but as a fitness “fanatic” you could say- I am super jealous and would kill for something like that!!
Hey Jen! Have you ever had all of your hormones checked? I used to have the same issue and finally had all of my hormone levels run and learned that I was all out of whack! If you haven’t already done that, it might be something that you want to look into!
When I had mono, I had THE WORST night sweats. I would have to change clothes at least twice a night. One night after taking anti-inflammatory medicine, I sweated out 10 pounds. It was awful!
I also sweat like crazy at night. Its weird because during the day I am always colder than my husband, but at night I get super hot and he says he can feel heat coming from my side of the bed. I never even mentioned it to a dr since it hasn’t seemed to be a big deal to me.But I guess lots of people have this issue!
I would check a day 21 progesterone level and make sure you are at least at 10. You could try some Vitex or progesterone cream the week before your cycle. Sounds hormonal :).
I will definitely be trying that chicken recipe – looks amazing! I hope you find an answer for your night sweats. My dad used to have them bad but his were associated with PTSD. I know how frustrating it can be to deal with undiagnosed health issues!
I have actually had a few bouts of night sweats over the last month. I freaked out after it happened a couple times because I’m only 25. This sounds weird, but my nervous response (sad, scared, stressed, etc…) is to sweat. You were actually a big comfort because I knew you (who is in ideal shape/health) had experienced them, so it helped me worry less about it. If it keeps up, I’ll see a doctor, but I’m guessing it’s just a response to stress or bad dreams.
Ps. SO cool that you were on Homeland!
I have had night sweats since I was a little kid. I really do believe they are hormonally, blood sugar, and how active you are related. There was a time in my life that it happened nightly, drenched through the sheets bad, and when I went to my MD (I was I think 25 give or take at the time) she said she only gets that from older ladies and that essentially was the end of the convo – sure we did blood work but I didn’t get a call back so I assume that it was inconclusive. I say hormonally as during pregnancy hardly had one, but once I popped, the first three-ish weeks, again nightly profuse. After those hormones stabilized, I will get them on occasion when my meals weren’t adequate enough or like I wake up in the middle of the night starving, so I assume the blood sugar went too low and you will get the ‘sweet sweats’. I also did find and it is all related of course is adrenal function, that the more active I am and if I’m not fueling properly things go hay-wire. I hope that made sense.
I wonder if there is an ayurvedic supplement/practice/something you could try that would help with it?
Have you tried acupuncture? I was having terrible night sweats and restful sleep for months, and acupuncture/cupping has helped almost 100%. I still have some bad nights, but nothing even close to before.
I’m playing blog catch up, but had to comment on this post. I get night sweats too – sometimes it’s a few days in a row and happens about monthly, and other times I’ll go several months in a row and then get it one night out of the blue. I’ve also been tested with no results, so I’ve succumbed to the fact that it might just be “normal” for me! I like reading through the comments for ideas, though!
I know this sounds crazy, but was it perhaps the sweet potatoes you ate? I ate them last night (I don’t usually eat them) then woke up in a cold sweat for the first time in years. There might be certain foods you need to avoid at dinner.
I get them as well. I was very athletic until I broke my leg. But it never changed. I noticed certain foods before bed would do it, one being peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, another melatonin. Maybe food allergies have something to do with it.
Hi, I’m not sure when you wrote this blog post or if you’re still sweating at night, but while researching my night sweats on google I came across your blog… I have been having night sweats (like you – randomly) for 3 years now. I recently had my A1C level tested and it was low, so my Dr recommended eating a tablespoon of PB before bed and guess what – my night sweats are gone! I was having hypoglycemic episodes at night ? PB is a complex card that helps regulate my blood sugar. I am actually in the waiting room for my follow up visit with my Dr to ask questions about what this means for my health.