Weight-Loss Strategy #5. Eat three meals a day, plus snacks.

Skipping meals is counterproductive when you are trying to lose weight. So is severely reducing food intake, since such strict changes are impossible to maintain and are ultimately unhealthy.

In addition, eating the bulk of your calories at one sitting may impair your metabolism, the rate at which your body burns the energy from the food you eat.

You will be more successful in the long run if you allow yourself to eat when you are hungry, eat enough nutritious low-fat food to satisfy that hunger, and spread your calorie intake over the course of the day so you don’t start to run out of energy and then grab for a quick food fix.

If you lan out the number of calories you are allowed each day, and then organize your food for the day, you will also be less likely to grab for something unhealthy.

Make sure you always take a snack or sandwich with you, for the same reason. If hunger strikes, you have a sensible and fast option, and will be much less likely to resort to an unhealthy one.