Ep. #96 On today’s episode of Pursuit of Wellness, I am joined by Todd Anderson, a former NFL conditioning coach and sleep optimization expert, as he shares his insights on how proper sleep can enhance hormone balance and overall health. We discuss his career evolution and fitness journey, as well as the  founding of Dream Recovery, which explores the vital relationship between sleep stages and daily vitality. We’ll delve into the psychological aspects of weight loss and learn about lesser-known sleep practices that can transform your night, like sauna sessions and mouth taping. Sleep is such an important part of our health, so let’s jump in and learn how to optimize our sleep!

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Show links: 

• Mouth Tape


• Eye Mask


• Silk Pillow Case


• Dreamrecovery.io


• Eight Sleep Pad 

Topics Discussed

• 02:20 - Todd’s athletic background 


• 05:52 - Quality vs. quantity of sleep


• 08:26 - Front loading hydration and optimal meal times


• 14:33 - Implications of quality sleep


• 16:11 - Todd’s weight loss story


• 25:02 - Alcohol’s effect on sleep quality


• 29:13 - Heart rate variability


• 33:58 - Benefits of sauna and cold plunge


• 39:18- Cryotherapy


• 40:00- Optimal bedroom temperature 


• 42:05- Mouth taping and mouth breathing


• 46:42 - Eye masks


• 49:07 - Nose strips


• 51:11 - TV and phones before bed


• 53:51 - Sleep apnea


• 54:23 - Melatonin


• 55:14 - CBD and weed before bed


• 56:14 - Differences in men and women’s sleep needs


• 56:54- WiFi and bluetooth effects on sleep


• 57:35- Tips for shift workers