COMFORT FOOD LOADED BAKED POTATO

{Sleep better tonight} Surprising

SLEEP STEALERS

Avoid these three morning mistakes to help get better rest at bedtime.

THE PROBLEM: Lounging in bed to read or relax

If you’re already having trouble getting enough rest, staying under the covers can throw off your sleep-wake cycle.

MORNING MAKEOVER:

As soon as the alarm sounds, get up and open the curtains. Movement and sunlight switch your brain to awake mode.

THE PROBLEM: Too many cups of coffee at breakfast

It’s a vicious cycle: Too much caffeine can send you into withdrawal later in the day, causing you to reach for more java. And if you drink that last cup after 3 p.m., it may interfere with sleep.

MORNING MAKEOVER:

Eat a high-protein meal for lasting energy and cap your coffee consumption at just two cups.

THE PROBLEM: Forgetting to take your medication

Before you pop missed pills at dinner, know that certain meds and supplements, such as Prozac and vitamin B, are linked to disrupted rest if taken too late in the day.

MORNING MAKEOVER:

Place the pills near your house keys so you can’t miss them.

SOURCES: Michael Breus, PhD, fellow, American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Joyce Walsleben, PhD, past director, Sleep Disorders Center, NYU Langone Medical Center.

{Shape-up shortcut} A TIGHTER TUMMY (w it h o u t c r u n c h e s!)

Sit at theCORE REACH edge of a chair, knees bent at a 90-degree angle. Lean upper body to the right, lowering hand toward floor (keep rear on chair). Pause, return to start and repeat Sit at Twist upper torso to the right; hold for 15 on left side. Continue for 1 minute.

SPINAL TWIST

the edge of a chair, knees bent at a 90-degree angle and arms crossed.

seconds. Return to start and repeat on left side. Continue for 1 minute.

Snap to see these moves in action. Get the WD app, page 12.

SOURCE: Sean Foy, MA, author, The Burst! Workout. Moves demonstrated by health editor Rachel Morris.

Healthcare $AVING$ Trick

Whether you’re considering physical therapy or knee surgery, take a peek at the estimated costs at guroo.com. The free site lists the national price average as well as what people in your area tend to pay for the procedure before insurance takes effect. Also find information on how to prepare, questions you should run by your doctor, and more.

QAre the reading glasses sold at drugstores as good as prescription lenses?

AThe lower price tag is tempting, but it ’s best to see your optometrist. First, choosing the wrong over-the-counter prescription can lead to headaches, eye strain and even nausea. More important, people tend to notice that menus and books become hard to read at a time when other eye issues start creeping up, so an appointment for glasses also gives you the chance to be checked for eye problems, like glaucoma, that may otherwise go undetected.