When was the last time someone asked you how well you were sleeping? Chances are, unless you just talked to your mom or visited the doctor, it’s been a while since anyone has taken an interest in your nightly shut-eye habits.

But it turns out that for people looking to live a fit-minded lifestyle, proper sleep habits — in addition to a balanced diet and exercise — are crucial to achieving any health and wellness goals, including weight loss. In fact, new studies show that poor sleep habits, like getting too little or too much sleep, can be enough to hamper the positive effects of maintaining a clean diet and regular workout routine.