Apple juice and problems dreaming in general.

I know a lot of people have posted for this, but I have different questions and problems.
My first question is: How much apple juice should you drink?
Second: When should you drink it? (Right before falling asleep, a couple hours before sleeping, etc...)
Third: Is there a specific type you should drink?

Here are my problems I need help with.
1. I've been trying the apple juice thing for a little while now, (a couple months) and I only remember dreaming vividly maybe once or twice. I want to know if there's anything I'm doing wrong. Am I supposed to do a LD Technique, or do I just sleep?
2. I've tried keeping a dream journal several times, but I'll write an entry one night and forget to do it the next or just forget the dream by the time I wake up. That's what's been happening lately. I know what's happening in my dream during the REM Cycle, but as soon as my body begins waking up on its own, the dream vanishes into thin air and I can't remember any of it. Is there a way I can help remember my dreams?
3. Lastly, LD Techniques. It's been a fierce passion of mine to start Lucid Dreaming because I feel like if I can't control everything in the real world, then I would love the chance to control what I want in my own little land. I've bought about three books, downloaded MP3 music, and meditated. I'm trying everything I can to get my first LD but nothing is happening and I've been trying for two years. My major problem is the techniques, though. The ones I find easier to do are also the hardest. WBTB is the one where you sleep for a certain amount of time then wake up and then fall back asleep, well I love that technique... but I have issue. School. I wake up every morning at 6:00am. I've tried falling asleep earlier so I can do it, but every single time I was more exhausted than before and even fell asleep in class every once in a while. My problem is that I've read that you have to constantly do it, but with my school schedule, I can maybe do it once a week. Any help or ideas?

Thanks!!

1) Apple juice I think is not much of an aid, it can help a bit in that it gives the body/brain more energy, but there's not much choline in apple juice compared to other foods.

2) Lucid/dreaming supplements are going to be of little assistance to you without you first developing awareness of dreams (dream recall).

3) You've been "trying to [lucid dream] for two years," it is a "fierce passion" of yours, but "tried keeping a dream journal several times" and you stopped....

I think the issue is one of dedication and determination. If you really truly want to lucid dream and remember your dreams, then you must dedicate yourself to the practice and make life changes that will support it. If you must get up at 6am, then get to bed no later than 10pm. If anything, a strict sleep schedule helps lucid dreaming and dream recall, so that shouldn't be a hindrance.

Building recall is your number one goal. Set goals and try to achieve them, like 1 dream a night, and challenge yourself to continually improve.

For improving recall:
+ set strong intention at bed time to remember your dreams. You can do this by repeating to yourself (and really feel and mean it, don't just mouth the words) "I remember my dreams.....I remember my dreams" do this for several minutes. Review the memories of your day at bedtime, let them arise, and visualize each scene that you remember, and think to yourself, "this is a dream." Memory and dreams are closely related.

+ set intention to notice every waking during the night, remain still, recall and record the dream. Dream recall is best immediately after waking from a dream. If you can't go right back to sleep, learn how to do this, getting back to sleep several times during the night is a very valuable LDing skill. You only dream when you're asleep!

+ every time you wake up, reach for recall. Try to develop the ability not to move, and to immediately go over your recent dreams, or if nothing comes, ask yourself "what was I just dreaming about?" and wait quietly. It's important to leave time for yourself to do recall in the morning, set your alarm for 15-20 minutes before you must absolutely be up. Reaching for recall *every night* is critical, it is a skill/"muscle" that builds over time.

+ if at all possible, teach yourself to wake up without an alarm. This can be done. The shock of the alarm is bad for recall, and you're losing the last dream cycle of the night which may be the best one to the alarm.

+ keep your journal *every day*, even on days without dreams, write "no recall, but I will tonight!". You are communicating to your subconscious that you desire and welcome and enjoy remembering your dreams.

+ really reward yourself when you remember a dream, thank your subconscious for your dreaming experiences and be really sincere, and say that you are looking forward to future dreaming experiences.

+ throughout your busy day, frequently stop to consider your situation, consider that you may in fact be dreaming, and do a reality check or two. This takes almost no time. If you keep you mind on dreaming like this you will start to remember your dreams and start having lucid dreams!

Good luck! Let us know how this works for you.

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Originally Posted by FryingMan

1) 3) You've been "trying to [lucid dream] for two years," it is a "fierce passion" of yours, but "tried keeping a dream journal several times" and you stopped....

I think the issue is one of dedication and determination. If you really truly want to lucid dream and remember your dreams, then you must dedicate yourself to the practice and make life changes that will support it. If you must get up at 6am, then get to bed no later than 10pm.

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I really appreciate your help; it gave me a few new hints and ways to learn how to LD. My only problem is the way you made it seem like how my fierce passion seemed fake because I can't keep a dream journal. I sincerely did try to keep a journal for those two years I've been trying, and yes, I've written, 'I didn't had a dream last night, but hopefully will tonight,' several times. Maybe I forgot to include a few details. I've tried reality checks, journaling, reading books, tried the techniques; everything!
Another thing is that I did clearly mention how I've tried going to bed earlier, even around 7:00pm, but I was getting more and more tired and I couldn't focus on school. I just don't know what to do.
I'm trying not to lose hope because I read that if you don't truly believe you can, then you won't, but I'm starting to think that I'm never going to get anything accomplished until I'm out of school in another two years. Honestly, I don't really feel like waiting that long, yet again, I don't know if I can put any more stress on my life by stressing myself out trying to do this.

As you can see, I'm at a mental war with myself.

I wasn't trying to say your fierce passion is fake, but rather trying to point out the sort of dedication it takes to back up that fierce passion. One of my early "discoveries" is that no one could help me with my LD/dream problems (I had and still have on occasion trouble falling back asleep if I wake up fully during the night), I had to figure it out myself. I researched and experimented and worked hard at falling back asleep until I found some techniques that work. I made diet and exercise and sleep schedule changes, all focused on bettering my sleep and increasing my dreaming.

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I don't know if I can put any more stress on my life by stressing myself out trying to do this.

As you can see, I'm at a mental war with myself.

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Well there's part of the issue right there. Stress is a dream-killer, and a positive attitude is important, as you note.

Meditation can help with stress, as can just deciding to not stress about the stuff life throws on your path. See the joy in life, both waking and dreaming.

I know from personal experience that lack of desired progress is demotivating. But again, use that fierce passion to cut out that kind of thinking, being down on yourself will not make things better, so just don't do that! Building willpower to avoid sinking into negative thought patterns also helps. Know that positive attitude plus following the recipe for dream recall will yield results.

I don't understand how going to bed earlier made you more tired. Were you waking up a lot in the night?