Every few months the tabloids feature stories about gorgeous celebs who snapped back to their pre-pregnancy bodies in just 4, 6 or 8 weeks. In real life it takes closer to a year for the average women to fit into her old clothes again. Sure, it would probably take no time at all if we lived like movie stars with personal trainers, nutritionists and nannies. And we'd get a heck of a lot more sleep, too.

Sleep, says a new study from Kaiser Permanente, is as essential as diet and exercise when it comes to weight loss for new mothers. If you aren't getting enough sleep after your baby turns six months old, you may have a problem losing that leftover baby weight. Moms who are sleeping less than five hours at a clip are three times as likely to hold onto those postpartum pounds as those who get at least seven hours of shuteye. Research has shown that lack of sleep can play havoc with the hormones that control your appetite. You feel hungry, yet nothing seems to satisfy you. (That is a bad diet combo!) What's worse, not going back to your pre-pregnancy weight within a year of childbirth could end up leading to longer-term weight gain.

Try these tips to get some sleep:

• The best way to get baby to bed
• Checklist for sleep-deprived parents
• 9 ways to get better sleep

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