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CK - Jet Lag
Last Post 03/26/2014 11:39 AM by carl x. 7 Replies.
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dkri

Posts:95

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03/23/2014 05:07 AM
I know you've done similar to the trip I just did (Newark to Guangzhou thru HKG) a bunch of times. Jet lag both directions is a bear for me. What's your routine for minimizing effects? Got home Tuesday and I'm still not right.

HKG is cool. The mainland is staggering culture shock, and I'm well traveled. My lungs haven't recovered yet, either.
formerly dkri
smokey52

Posts:492

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03/23/2014 12:58 PM
I read somewhere that if you watch the setting sun, even through cloud cover, it resets your circadian clock and helps adapt to the new day/night setting. I did it for multiple trips to Ireland, and it seemed to help. I realize that the time difference is nowhere near the jumps you experienced.
dkri

Posts:95

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03/23/2014 04:59 PM
Thanks Smokey.

The odd thing about me is that I have no trouble falling asleep, it's the staying asleep that kills me. Going to bed at my normal time of 1030 or 11, and then waking up at four, unable to get back to sleep, that really stinks.
formerly dkri
Orange Crush

Posts:4499

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03/23/2014 08:57 PM
Going to Europe typically is fine, coming back is bad, can't stay up long enough, go to bed early and wake up early. Takes several weeks to reallign.

For my Brisbane work trips, I just tried to stay on western Canadian time while there (typically for a week) with about 17hr difference (I think). That meant starting work 3 am Brissie time, going for a 6am ride to Mt Cootha before heading to the office 8am. Straight to bed at 6pm after the work day. Repeat. No damage on system coming back. Of course this was aided by bussiness class flights allowing plenty sleep.
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/23/2014 11:54 PM
Yeah, the let lad coming back is usually worse. Honestly, the best thing I have found to deal with it is "Vitamin A"....aka Ambien. I'll take 1/2 a pill when going to bed and then, if I wake up in the middle if the night, another 1/2 pill to get back to sleep. Prior to taking that, I used melatonin and that was OK.

If you wake up, DON'T do things that get your mind going....i will either read or listen to the radio and try and fall back asleep. Don't start flipping through e-mails, or surfing the web.

Exercise helps a lot too....hard as it may be, try and get some workouts in ASAP when you get back. Helps reset the body clock.

Rule of thumb for future trips - stay awake heading there and sleep as much as possible coming back. Force yourself to adjust to your normal bedtime routine, even if you aren't tired. It is all about tricking your body into the current time zone.

Keep us updated!,
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
dkri

Posts:95

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03/26/2014 05:54 AM
Thanks all. I appear to be adjusting after a week. Man, brutal.

Fortunately I had discipline about working out while there and on return. First day back I was too wiped, but other than that was every day.

Now the corollary to this is I'm traveling so much that I'm having to resort to (gasp) running at least a few days a week. Recumbent bikes in crappy hotel gyms don't get you anywhere. My hotel in Qingyuan had the best gym I've ever been in, on the level of like an Equinox. Really great. Nice spin bikes, next time I'm bringing bibs and shoes.
formerly dkri
Cosmic Kid

Posts:4209

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03/26/2014 10:11 AM
Yeah, it usually took me about a week to adjust back once I landed home. So you are right on schedule.

That is great the hotel has spin bikes for future trips. The hotel I use in HK has a couple and I'll bring bibs and some MTB shows.

Word to the wise on running - as a cyclist, you have the cardio to run more / faster than your body can handle. I strongly urge you to do a little regular running even when home so yr body can adapt to the stresses running imposes on the body. Learn from my mistakes!!!!
Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
THE SKINNY

Posts:506

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03/26/2014 11:39 AM
i've heard ambien is your friend but i would try it at home first to make sure you don't do weird stuff while asleep. i would be tempted to take it when i got on the plane but i guess it depends on if you fly at night or in the daytime. plus there's the worry of getting blood clots in your legs if you can't recline. it usually takes me a week to get back to normal but i'm usually functional after about 2 days.
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
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