# Ok on 5 hours of sleep a day or eat all you want. Which would you choose? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 22, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419 "2011-10-22T03:50:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/1 "2011-10-22T03:50:11Z")
I’d go for the former right now as much as I love to eat. I’ve been only getting five hours of sleep this week because the baby won’t cooperate. I feel like a zombie. Does anyone else feel as if they need at least seven hours of sleep a night (ideally eight) or they find it really difficult to function? ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/2 "2011-10-22T04:10:39Z")
I have a very hard time controlling what I eat, both what and how much, unless I am on a very strict regimen. But I can’t stay on a strict regimen forever, so I end up putting on weight, then going back on the regimen to take it off. So I would definitely vote for being able to eat anything I want and not gain weight. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/3 "2011-10-22T04:17:03Z")
I’m lucky to get 5 hours of sleep each night, but I’m not fine with it, I’m tired all the time. I eat all I want, but without enough physical activity I’ll gain weight. Tough choice, but I went with eating. Giving up sleep is easier than giving up food. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/4 "2011-10-22T05:14:27Z")
I need a LOT of sleep and never get enough, so I’m constantly exhausted. I’d kill to be able to run on only 5 hrs of sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/5 "2011-10-22T05:49:06Z")
I voted for 5 hours. I’d use one of those hours to get in shape. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/6 "2011-10-22T06:27:24Z")
How is this even a question? Obviously the answer is eat! ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/7 "2011-10-22T06:28:51Z")
Yes. Oh, I have to pick one? Again, I say yes. I’m dealing with depression that makes me not sleep or eat. And I’m fat and I LOVE to sleep. Yes, please, both. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/8 "2011-10-22T06:47:56Z")
I like eating and I don’t mind sleeping. So this was an easy one. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/9 "2011-10-22T07:58:59Z")
I already eat basically whatever I want. Any defects in my physique are a function of me spending too little time exercising, not my diet. I’d take the reduced sleep cycle. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Obvious)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/10 "2011-10-22T11:48:22Z")
I’ve been running on less than 5 hours of sleep a night for 15 years, so I’m used to that. I’d gladly take the food choice. Being able to eat whatever I want without worry would be excellent. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/11 "2011-10-22T12:09:59Z")
I voted for the food. I function fairly well on about 6 hours sleep and I’m pretty thin, but it’s a lot of work to be so. I’ve said no to an awful lot of tiramisu. And ice cream cones. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/12 "2011-10-22T12:23:11Z")
Sleep’s nice but I fucking LOOOOOOOVE food. I’d love to be able to stuff myself without the certaintly that I would blow up like a balloon. I also get by on 6-7 hours a night as it is, so it wouldn’t be that much of an alteration. ---
**Author:** ![Isabel8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/48db29/32.png) [@Isabel8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabel8)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/13 "2011-10-22T13:21:48Z")
> [@PandaBear77](#): > > I need a LOT of sleep and never get enough, so I’m constantly exhausted. I’d kill to be able to run on only 5 hrs of sleep. Same for me. I’m surprised how many people are choosing eating whatever you want. Personally I find it MUCH easier to control my eating when I’m well rested, so the 5 hrs sleep option would have me eating better, exercising more, and still having extra time & energy for other things. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/14 "2011-10-22T13:22:54Z")
I went with the five hours of sleep. I figure that the two extra hours of movement might actually cause me to lose weight. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/15 "2011-10-22T13:28:26Z")
Sleep, although to be honest I can get along pretty well on 5 hours sleep a night for a few days at a time. After that I start to lose concentration though. I already eat anything I want, within reason. I’ve never had a massive appetite, and I really dislike the feeling of having a very full stomach. I also do a lot of cycling which keeps my weight down. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/16 "2011-10-22T13:34:17Z")
I like sleeping, all warm and cozy in my bed, snuggled up with a dog or cat or both… why would I want to do less of it? I voted for eat all I want. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/17 "2011-10-22T15:40:17Z")
Sleep. Gluttony is overrrated. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/18 "2011-10-22T16:13:54Z")
I sleep about 5.5-6 hours a night anyway, so bring on the barbecue! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/19 "2011-10-22T16:17:45Z")
Bring on the bacon, indeed. I’m pretty sure that the ability to eat without gaining weight would significantly lower my risk of heart disease, and in the long term that’s more important to me than a couple extra hours a day. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/20 "2011-10-22T16:43:23Z")
Changing my sleep patterns is much easier than changing my eating patterns. Plus, I enjoy sleeping. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419.md?page=2)