For the last year or two, I’ve been starting each quarter with five days of Fast-Mimicking Diet, a low calorie (1000C on the first day, 700C each on days two-five), low protein quasi-fast that research is increasingly backing as a great tool for cancer prevention, longevity, and general health.  This quarter, I started the FMD a few days early, at the end of June, so I’d be done in time to BBQ binge on the 4th.  And, as per usual, I also used the FMD as a chance to take a week off from the gym, both because I think an intermittent complete break from training is wise in general, and because it’s almost a necessity for me given the week’s calorie restriction versus my normal, fast-metabolism-driven ‘human garbage disposal’ eating style.

Most quarters, however, I still do a bunch of walking during my FMD-ing.  But as my previously-mentioned knee tweak is still on the mend, without really meaning to, I’d also temporarily dropped from my usual daily 10-15k steps to just whatever bare minimum of limpy walking was required to get to work or meals or move around indoors.  Thus, for the final days of last week I was barely moving, and over the weekend, I pretty much wasn’t moving at all.

Early this year, when I started having back pain, I traced it to a similar walking fall-off, and ‘miraculously’ cured myself just by starting doing sufficient daily walking again.  But, apparently, I’m a slow learner.  Or, conversely, maybe I didn’t realize how quickly the absence of walking could be felt—especially if I’m also not pushing myself in the gym.

Indeed, by Saturday night, I got in bed, and spent several hours staring at the ceiling before I was finally able to fall asleep.  And then, on Sunday, despite being super tired all day, I again got in bed and couldn’t fall asleep, this time for pretty much the entire night, watching the time slowly tick by in fifteen minute increments until I gave up and groggily got out of bed at 5am.

By Monday, I felt terrible.  But I was also at least just smart enough to have identified potential cause and effect.  So, I got in at least 7500 steps, tweaky knee be damned.  And I made it to the gym for a short workout, easing back into light squats, presses, and deadlifts.

Monday evening, I was out cold almost before my head hit the pillow.  And then slept like a log for eight and a half hours straight.

So, if your own sleep is less stellar than you might hope, consider adding some movement into your day.  Even thirty minutes of fast walking makes a big difference for me, and that’s a small amount of time to invest for seven or eight far-more-pleasant hours of snoozing in exchange.