How do you go about shedding extra pounds?

Simple: eat a well-balanced, low-fat diet and exercise regularly.

Everyone knows that, silly.

Is that all?

Actually, no.

A good night’s sleep is an extremely important factor in weight-loss.

Recent studies show that sleeping fewer than eight hours a night increases levels of ghrelin, a hormone that makes us feel hungry, while suppressing another hormone, leptin, which makes us feel full. Even before you wake up, your eating inhibitions have been weakened, making you more likely to overeat throughout the day. On top of that, you’re fatigued and less likely to get that butt to the gym – which means excess calories will be stored as fat.

Obviously, you will be pulling all-nighters once-in-a-while, but make a point to get a significant amount of shut-eye most of the week. Otherwise, you’ll feel chubby and cranky.

Eat less, exercise more and sleep well. The combination of all three is golden, girl.