The Tassel is Worth the Hassle

Sleep-deprived people eat more because they’re hungrier, they’re awake longer and they may be tempted by foods everywhere they go. "The less slepp you get, the more likely you are to head to the kitchen after wake up," explains Michaud. She cites a study out of Arkansas that found that less than a week after getting two extra hours of sleep a night, formerly sleep-deprived people reduced their usual caloric intake by roughly 300 calories a day.

But it’s not  a  matter of just spending some time between the sheets. Not getting seven to eight hours of quality sleep a night rises a person’s chance of becoming obese by 27 percent, explains Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers in Maryland, which studies chrinic syndromes.

So what can you do than count sheep? Start a sleep diet! Experts say that adopting certain de-stressing habits — like taking an hour to relax in the evening and avoiding caffeine and exercise before bedtime — is the key to a better night’s sleep and a better body. "The studies are consistet," says Michaud. "It doesn’t seem to matter if you’re 4 or 40, male or female — less sleep means more weight."

Snooze and you’ll lose– researchers now believe quality sleep could be the key to shedding unwanted pounds. Skimping on z’s may hurt peoples ability to lose weight (even if they’re dieting and exercising religiously) and may cause the body to pack on pounds. A Harvard study over a 16-year period found that woman who slept five or fewer hours a night were 32 percent more likely to gain 30 pounds or more than women who slept seven hours a night.

"if you’re watching your weight, getting a good seven hours of sleep a night gives your efforts a big boost," says Ellen Michaud, author of Sleep to Be Sexy, Smart and Slim.

The science is surprisingly simple: The amount of sleep influences the production of two important weight-regulating hormones — leptin and ghrelin, which control feelings of hunger and fullness. "Those who sleep less tend to produce lower levels of leptin, which suppresses appetite," she says. "And they produce higher levels of ghrelin, which stimulates appetite."

Jennifer Aniston’s main squeeze. John Mayer, didn’t join his honey for dinner at La Famiglia on June 22 in London, but he wasn’t far away: Jen’s in the U.K supporting John, who’s on tour in England until june 29. "They’ve agreed to never be apart for more than five days unless there’s an ironclad work commitment tht makes it impossible," says an insider. How sweet!

If your birth control method failed Be Calm.

Sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. You should know there’s a backup plan. What it is. Plan B is emergency contraception. It helps prevent pregnancy after birth control failure or unprotected sex. What it isn’t. Plan B is not regular birth control and should not be used that way. It simply isn’t as effective. Also Plan B is not the abortion pill. Where you get it. If you’re 18 or over, you don’t need a prescription. Go directly to the pharmacy. If you’re under 18, you’ll need to see a healthcare professional. When you take it. You have a 72-hour window to prevent pregnancy. The sooner you take Plan B, the more effective it is. When taken as directed, Plan B reduces the chance of pregnancy by up to 89%. Take the first pil as soon as possible after unprotected sex, and the second pill 12 hours later. Learn more at 1-800-330-1271 or go2planb.com.

What you should know about Plan B. Plan B does not protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Plan B isn’t effective if you’re already pregnant, and it won’t terminate an existing pregnancy. Side effects may include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, changes in your period, dizziness, and breast tenderness. If your period is more than a week late, you may be pregnant. If you have severe abdominal pain, you may have an ectopic pregnany, and should get immediate medical help. Please see important product information on adjacent page. You are encourage to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA at fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.