How to Cut Calories with Your DVR

Removing 220 calories from your day could make a big difference to your waistline, right?

So here's the simple way to make it happen: Set your DVR to record your favorite late-night shows. Then, hit the hay. In a study, people who stayed up late -- and got less sleep as a result -- munched down 220 more daily calories than the hit-the-sack-early crowd.

Nocturnal Noshing
The people in the study with later bedtimes averaged about 5.5 hours of sleep per night. The folks who crashed earlier slept about 8.5 hours. Although the sleep-deprived did not eat bigger meals, they did snack more than the well-rested group -- and usually on high-carb foods eaten late in the evening. Find out why eating a big breakfast may help you lose weight.

Sleep/Eat Connection
Researchers suspect the night owls ate more not just because they had more opportunity but also because sleep loss may affect reward-motivation brain neurons in a way that leads to more snacking. Snack without guilt by nibbling on these healthy munchies instead.

Can't get to sleep? Try these tricks for nodding off.

Sleep curtailment is accompanied by increased intake of calories from snacks. Nedeltcheva, A. V. et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2009 Jan;89(1):126-133.