I thought I would pass along a couple tools that have helped me out recently, forgive me if they have already been shared.
Heart Rate Variability
If you are like me and don’t like to wear gadgets but want to track your heart rate variability this app is fantastic and works like a charm https://www.hrv4training.com/ It is $15 on the app store and the best purchase I have made in a long time. Found out about it when I was reading the latest edition of the Cyclists Training Bible
Melatonin in natural foods
Also if you are like me and have sleep problems sometimes but dont like to take any supplements this podcast on Melatonin in natural foods is a great source https://nutritionfacts.org/audio/more-on-melatonin/. Long story short there is enough melatonin in 2 pistachio nuts to provide a benefit to your sleep. The past 5 nights I have eaten 5 pistachio nuts shortly before bed time and 4 of those nights I have had a fantastic sleep. Perhaps it is the placebo effect, my own imagination or some other factor but I will keep eating some pistachio nuts before bed for the foreseeable future. Hope these tools help you guys as much as they help me.
Cheers,
Mike Woods
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I just started using HRV4training. I recently bought a wearable called Biostrap that measures your Nocturnal HRV, Sleep quality, SPO2 and HR. So far, I like that device. There are other devices like whoop. I have not used Whoop, however.
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Thank you sharing in regards to the Biostrap. Just took a look and while I’m new to the whole HRV things, I was wondering if I was going to have to wear my heart rate strap all day…
Thanks to your comment, think I may just get the Biostrap as it is cheaper than the Apple Watch that doesn’t do a good job with HRV right now!
No Worries. I will be selling my Apple Watch Series 4. I have found it to be useless for athletes. Hope next year they match Biostrap feature-wise.
I just ordered WHOOP and should have the system here in a few days. They had a holiday special for a 12 month membership. What I like about the wrist band systems is that they are continuously reading your HR and HRV data, during the day, throughout the night, etc. It’s basically increasing the sample size from a few minutes a day to 24 hours a day. I just hope I can get the optical sensor to work given all the tats on my arms! (full sleeves on both arms). i have one section under my right wrist that is not as covered that may work, otherwise I will have to go against their specs and attempt to strap the unit to my arm or ankle. I have not been sleeping well, so I hope I can learn something interesting that may help me address that. It’s killing my Human Growth Hormone production!
HRV4Training has recently announced integration with ouraring.com which provides sleep and HRV related info.
