# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/41 "2011-10-24T02:32:03Z")
I really don’t feel like I have enough time in the day to do everything I want to/should. Having an extra few hours in a day would be wonderful. Eating anything I want to would be great, but I’ve also got a family I’d like to keep healthy. The kids especially tend toward eating whatever I do. So eating anything I want doesn’t only affect me. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/42 "2011-10-24T03:06:44Z")
This was easy since I’m already okay on five hours sleep. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/43 "2011-10-24T13:52:54Z")
> [@rhubarbarin](#): > > I eat MORE than I want but am still too thin That was me from about aged 16 to 35. I can remember going to bed with indigestion many nights because I’d eaten far more food than I really wanted - but I was still thin to the point that doctors always told me I should gain weight. Now that I’m in my 50s, I’m grateful that my natural youthful tendencies veered toward extreme thinness. I’m no longer insanely thin, just normal weight, and I have to show a bit of common sense - if I stop exercising and/or eat badly for several weeks I do put on few pounds, which I then have to work to take off. But compared to most people I seem to have it easy. So, enjoy your thinness while it lasts (I’m assuming you are under 40) and look forward to a time when you’ll be able to maintain “normal” weight with only the amount of effort that other people had to make when they were much younger. As to the poll - I’m with the majority of poll respondents. Sleep is lovely, especially when you are prone to vivid dreams, so no reason to hold yourself to 5 hours/night. As to food - yum! It would be delightful to eat whatever I wanted without ever needing to worry about weight. Kind of like being 20 again. ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/44 "2011-10-24T14:02:43Z")
Eating, because it would be a superpower. I would have myself encased in a giant cake-prison and eat my way out. Actually, I think there is a comic book hero with that power. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/45 "2011-10-24T14:03:39Z")
Eating definitely. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/46 "2011-10-24T14:31:15Z")
I’ve pretty much got by on five hours a night for the past couple of decades, so I’ll go with the food thing. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/47 "2011-10-24T14:38:34Z")
I sleep like a log and I’m lucky to be one of those people for whom a 10m catnap can do wonders… ask me again if I ever develop insomnia. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/48 "2011-10-24T14:53:14Z")
Food. Definitely the food. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/49 "2011-10-24T14:54:07Z")
Well your OP / Poll is not very clear - I would take “eat all you want and not gain weight” because on the whole, I get the sleep I need now - I’d like a little more but I’m not averaging 5 hours/night due to a newborn like you are. But if the choice is between, “ONLY get 5 hours of sleep a night, indefinitely, while being able to eat all I want…, vs. GUARANTEED to get all the sleep you need, but my metabolism otherwise remains normal”, then it’s the second one hands down. I can watch my weight on my own and getting the right amount of rest would be wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/50 "2011-10-24T14:55:14Z")
I’d suggest to spend three days not eating or sleeping, and see which one you miss more. Definitely sleeping. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/51 "2011-10-24T15:08:10Z")
I get five hours of sleep as it is. Won’t say I feel great because of it, but I manage. But to be able to eat as much horrible crap as I want? Sign me up! ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/52 "2011-10-24T15:38:31Z")
I never sleep more than 5 hours so it is an easy choice. ---
**Author:** ![Petrichord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Petrichord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrichord)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/53 "2011-10-24T18:46:55Z")
The practical part of me wants the extra hours of being alert during the day…but Mr. Chord likes his sleep, so choosing that option would mean many hours of staying up alone, being productive, while he slumbers in peace. Pass the bacon, please. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/54 "2011-10-24T19:03:18Z")
I literally cannot comprehend that the answer can be anything other than ‘eat’. I mean it. I never felt such a disconnect to anyone as pronounced as I feel to anyone posting anything other than ‘eat’. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/55 "2011-10-24T19:45:46Z")
I already sleep less than five hours, so I’ll take the eat-everything\* bolt-on please! \*(username) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/56 "2011-10-25T00:04:49Z")
I could care less about eating. I’d much rather have more time in the day. ---
**Author:** ![PandaBear77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@PandaBear77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PandaBear77)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 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/600419/57 "2011-10-25T15:47:37Z")
There’s one thing I’ve wondered about this poll … With the eating thing – do you not gain from the weight you are now? Or do you eat and get to be thin, too? If you’re overweight to begin with (like I am) - the concept of eating with no more weight gain isn’t much of an incentive. That said if I could be thin and never gain weight again, I’d change my answer to that. If not, I’ll stick with the 5 hrs of sleep thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/58 "2011-10-25T22:38:48Z")
Weight gain. I feel lousy no matter HOW much sleep I get (5 or 12, makes no difference) so I can’t believe I’d ever feel OK, rest-wise. Now food… I luuurves me some food. ---
**Author:** ![Waxwinged](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c2a13f/32.png) [@Waxwinged](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waxwinged)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/59 "2011-10-25T22:44:37Z")
Definitely 5 hours of sleep. I need 8-9 to function normally, right now, and it’s a real nuisance. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2011, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-on-5-hours-of-sleep-a-day-or-eat-all-you-want-which-would-you-choose/600419/60 "2011-10-26T09:12:00Z")
I already live on 5 hours of sleep, so let me be gluttonous, thanks. [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=2) [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=4)