My ‘everyone’ was hyperbole – but everyone I know who has tried it significantly oversleeps at least once during adaption. If you didn’t, then I think you’re more hardcore than the rest of us put together. :)

I completely agree with the rest. Don’t do it unless you need to. Regarding medical supervision though, I doubt any doctor would agree to it. I’ve told a few doctors of my sleep pattern; some don’t believe me, others say it’s doomed to failure and the rest want to hospitalize me.

Good luck. :)

Sharif

It’s not true that older teenagers need more sleep than younger ones. The medical recommendation is 8-10 hours for everyone under 18, and individuals differ, so you may need more or less than the average. Also, I’m sure you know this but I have to say it anyway: Polyphasic, or any restrictive, sleep schedules, as well as restrictive diets and other experimental lifestyles that may cause physical or mental damage are NOT RECOMMENDED for those who are still experiencing lots of physical growth. You can screw up your growth pattern, and there’s no fixing that once you do, so it’s not worth it just for the “cool” of doing Uberman (or whatever) now rather than later. Because of the scientific fact that you only get one shot and physical and mental growth, and that good growth takes lots of sleep and food, I’m 100% against people under 18 messing with polyphasic sleep, diets, fasting, or any of that, without taking the possible consequences very seriously. If there’s a problem that needs addressing, such as an inability to sleep normally, then by all means consider a polyphasic schedule as a possible solution…WITH medical supervision, AFTER all the more obvious things (like diet, caffeine, stress, depression, light & sound stimulus, etc.) have been looked at and corrected.

There, it’s my blog and I’ve officially given my opinion; do with it as thou wilt, and good luck to you both!

PD

Nice. :) That was exactly how I started.

First: obligatory disclaimer, no studies done, might inhibit growth, might kill you, et cetera, et cetera. That said, I was your age when I first tried Uberman, and only a little older when I first successfully adapted, and at 16 I’m not dead yet, so.

That said, physically you would need more sleep than me, as I’m two years older – how much more is variable. It’s possible that Tesla physically just isn’t enough sleep. Anecdotal evidence yes, but having adapted to Uberman at 15 I’d say you have a decent chance of success there.
My advice: try Uberman first. It’s easier, everyone fails at polyphasic the first time, and it will get you used to the type of pattern that polyphasic involves. If I’d tried Tesla without having adapted to Uberman previously I would have failed and failed hard. Besides, Uberman is plenty hardcore.

Sharif

Good to hear. :) More information is coming – I plan to keep updating my blog as long as I’m polyphasing; there’s also a good chance that there’ll be a new adaption blog from my friend Daniel, who’s currently on Uberman, at http://morpheus.tesser.org .

In answer to your question, for me it took about ten days from ‘hey, it would be cool to try this’ to ‘okay, feeling less crap now’. The second successful adapter was faster – he started on Dymaxion (which took about a week), and moved to Tesla in a matter of days.

If there’s anything in particular you want me to write about, just say so. ^^

Good luck – if you decide to try it, I think it will be easier for having adapted to Uberman first.

Sharif

Thanks! -PD

PD- I do agree. It was wrong of me to say that it’s not workable. I don’t like people who say things can’t be done.

Keep us posted — for SCIENCE!