Anabolic Talks

We all hear "8 hours", but is that a hard rule? I feel pretty good on 7.5, but if I'm in a heavy training block, am I short-changing my recovery? What's your magic number?

It's not just *quantity*, it's *quality*. 7.5 hours of solid, uninterrupted sleep is way better than 9 hours of tossing and turning. That said, when I increase my volume, I definitely need 8-8.5.

If I'm peaking for a meet, I'm aiming for 9. No question. The CNS (Central Nervous System) fatigue from heavy lifting is no joke. 7.5 is my minimum on a normal week.

The "magic number" is the one where you wake up *without an alarm* feeling refreshed. For me, that's 8 hours 15 mins, almost on the dot. If I'm training hard, I just go to bed earlier.

Agree with all the above. It depends on your training load. Base week? 7.5-8. Peak week? 8.5-9. Listen to your body. If you're feeling knackered by 3 PM, you're not sleeping enough.

Okay, consensus seems to be "8+" when the training gets serious. I'll try adding 30 mins to my routine and see if it helps. Cheers.