Dealing with Jet Lag

[mariawolters]

After searching the forums, I found quite a few posts that say "jet lag has an effect on lifting" (and also a few posts where people boasted about not being affected by jet lag ...) but nothing more specific.

So, what is your experience with lifting while jet lagged, and how do you adjust training?

For reference, here is the info I've been able to get from various posts so far:

• don't lift while heavily jet lagged
• reset and give yourself time to work back up
• be especially careful about nutrition to make sure your body doesn't have to contend with a double whammy, i.e. disrupted circadian rhythm AND lack of nutrients
• minimise jet lag in the first place (melatonin tablets, walk outside when at your destination, eat at the same times as you would at your destination)

[Mark Rippetoe]

You lift when you have to lift, Maria. What do you think happens when the World Championships arrive and the Chinese lifters come to Poland? They get there early enough to adapt somewhat, but they have to train. My experience is that it takes about 5 days traveling east, much less going west.

[ddbig]

I maybe in a similar situation exploring a new sales job opportunity which will have me traveling weekly.

My goal at this point is to maintain strength and less focus on accumulating more strength.

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

[mariawolters]

Thanks Mark!

Regarding the Chinese lifters, I'm also pretty sure that they won't fly Economy. The extra leg room even in Premium Economy can make a surprising difference.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I can assure you that leg room does not mitigate jet lag.

[Leah Lutz]

Maria,

I train while jet lagged, but only a few times a year. It is much tougher for me going east, so on my recent trip from the west to east Coast and that also means training in the mornings, before meetings, but my sleep rarely adjusts. Getting up while my body thinks it's 3am is horrible, but that is usually my training option. So far I've been able to keep up my training schedule, and I am way, way happier if I find that time to train rather than skip such large chunks of time.

Being pretty on point with my nutrition helps a lot, I take melatonin, and when it gets really bad, I hit the Tylenol PM.