# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![UncleNito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7cd45c/32.png) [@UncleNito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleNito)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/21 "2011-10-22T16:49:03Z")
I can barely function if I get five hours in one night, let alone sustain that for any length of time. On the other hand, as long as I pay attention to my weight and/or food intake, I don’t have much trouble maintaining a healthy weight without feeling deprived. Definitely sleep. The extra time would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/22 "2011-10-22T17:13:19Z")
Pass the fried chicken. mmm ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/23 "2011-10-22T18:36:56Z")
Sleep. While I’m intrigued by the thought of being able to eat whatever I wanted, I’d much rather have a couple more hours a day to do stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/24 "2011-10-22T18:48:08Z")
Anyone who has ever woken up behind the wheel will pick option 1. It’s quite a terrifying experience. It’s possible to get so tired that the mechanism by which your body cares it’s about to die malfunctions momentarily. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/25 "2011-10-22T18:51:28Z")
I have a sleep disorder which means that 5 hours of sleep would be a hell of a lot for me, and I also have a very small appetite for food, so the answer’s easy. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/26 "2011-10-22T19:10:18Z")
Sleep. I can’t put weight on even if I try, so I’m already at the eat what I want stage. But I average about 10 hours of sleep a day and sometimes still need a nap. To be good only on 5 hours of sleep would be like having my life doubled! ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/27 "2011-10-22T19:11:13Z")
I don’t know. Change the “without gaining weight” to "without health risks (cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.) and there would be no question. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/28 "2011-10-22T19:57:55Z")
I already battle binge eating disorder so if I could eat all I wanted without gaining weight I’d probably gorge myself to death. There are other dangers of overeating beyond weight gain and that includes (at least for me) falling completely into my addiction and spending every dollar and minute on shoveling insane amounts of food into my yap. So give me the need for less sleep please. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2011, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/29 "2011-10-22T20:09:42Z")
Probably the sleep. I already eat what I want. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/30 "2011-10-23T07:14:31Z")
I sleep 5 hours or less anyway, and I’ve always had a weight problem. No contest. ---
**Author:** ![Kevines11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kevines11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevines11)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/31 "2011-10-23T07:41:04Z")
I would definitely pick 5 hrs of sleep… Controlling your eating habits it’s nothing for a 25yr. Man ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/32 "2011-10-23T08:10:34Z")
5 hours is about what I get, and I AM fine. I can also eat all I want without gaining weight (although note here that mostly I HATE to eat, I HATE to cook, and I wish I could take a pill for my daily nutrition, so that isn’t saying much). ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/33 "2011-10-23T15:47:06Z")
I’m in about the same boat as Hilarity, sorry. I eat MORE than I want but am still too thin, and 5 hours of sleep is plenty for me to function normally and feel alert all day. I’d like it if I didn’t have to sleep at all. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/34 "2011-10-23T19:26:58Z")
I probably average somewhere between 6 and 6.5 hours of sleep a night as it is, so getting by on 5 hours wouldn’t be that big an improvement in my life. But being able to eat whatever I wanted without weight gain would be. I’m 20 pounds above what I consider my ideal weight (which itself is probably 10-15 pounds above what the formulas say is my ideal weight) and I’m having to fight real hard not to put on more weight. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/35 "2011-10-23T19:41:15Z")
Definitely less sleep. I need a good 7-8 hours normally, and during the darkest parts of Winter I tend to sleep even longer. I’m not concerned with my weight, and food is nice but being able to eat more doesn’t appeal to me. A few more hours each day? Hell yeah, I don’t have enough as is. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/36 "2011-10-23T23:17:31Z")
Hmmm… I can already eat all I want without the weight gain, however I do awful on less than seven hours of sleep. Since I already have one, can I have the other in this game? ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/37 "2011-10-23T23:43:58Z")
Sleep is my escape from life so I don’t _WANT_ to do less of it. Bring on the food! ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/38 "2011-10-24T01:15:00Z")
The eating. I get plenty of sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/39 "2011-10-24T01:23:26Z")
Ooh, good question. It would be great to be okay on 5 hours of sleep: that would mean extra hours in the day, and/or feeling better and able to do more during the hours I am awake. Being able to eat as much as I want would also be great. But, if I had the extra waking hours, I could use some of them to get more exercise, so if I had to pick one, I’d go with the 5 hours one. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/40 "2011-10-24T01:47:34Z")
I’m gonna go with the sleep thing. I’m not sure how that’d work out, since it’s hard for me to GET to sleep, but…Well, I love food. I love all kinds of food. But I just know that, while I may not gain weight, my greasy-salty-badforme food diet would kill me in other ways besides weight gain, so…no. I’ll take living on less sleep; perhaps I could stop taking sleeping pills and just settle for the few hours a night I would get naturally. [Previous 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=1) [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=3)