Can you adjust how much sleep your body needs?

[BohemianFit]

I've always been a bad sleeper. I wake up at the slightest noise (I now wear earplugs), toss and turn during the night, and have even been diagnosed with sleep apnea (based on my pallet shape, not weight). I've tried a B-pap machine in the past but couldn't sleep with it on my face. 

When I get 9+ hours of sleep (very rare, maybe once a month), I wake up feeling AMAZING. I go all day and have no problems powering through my workouts. 

I've tried a number of things to get more sleep but my question is has anyone been able to adjust their bodies to thrive (not just survive) on less sleep? If so, how?

[JohnRi]

I have kind of a similar situation.  Back when I was majorily obese, I slept at the drop of a hat, and 8 hours wasn't hard at all to get.  Now that I'm exercising daily, and lost 43 lbs, I find that I'm sleeping a little more.  At one point I was only getting 5 hours of sleep.  I was FULL of energy, and never tired.  But that was when I was exercising every other day.  Now that I've switched to daily 3-5 mile walks weather permitting or 30 minute stationary bike rides, I'm stuggling to stay up past nine.  And I'm getting closer to 6 1/2 to 7 hours now.  If I take a day off, I have a hard time going to sleep, and don't sleep as much.  Ever once in a while I get 8-9 hours, (About once a month) and I'll be like super man.  But most days I'm up by 5 or 6 AM, full on energy raring to go.  I'm almost NEVER tired anymore.  I feel like I'm in my 20's again...  Not bad for a 48 year man, with 53 more lbs to lose...

So for me increasing my exercise to every day, help me get more sleep.