Studies have shown that skimping on sleep, even if you try to sleep in to 'catch up' on the weekends leads to more bad food cravings, eating bigger portions and have less self control over unhealthy foods such as baked goods, pizza, chips and other refined carbohydrates and sugars because not getting 8-9 solid hours of sleep affects our brains satiety hormones (which tells us when we are full to stop eating) so that it is harder to feel satiated after a normal sized healthy meal. When we are under-slept, our stress hormone cortisol ramps up and this stimulates our hunger centre because our body and brain goes into 'fight or flight' mode and craves sugar, salt and bad fats. So if you need to lose a few pounds, before trying super-strict dieting or crazy exercise regimes that leave you grumpy and tired, just get to bed a half hour earlier each night!