There are those dieters who believe that skipping meals will actually kick start the weight loss process. But experts know better -- bypassing breakfast, lunch or dinner is actually the quickest way to derail your diet efforts. While it may help you lose weight in the short term, it's actually water weight. In addition, fasting can cause dizziness and fatigue. When your body goes into starvation mode and you can no longer tolerate the hunger, you're likely to binge and pack the weight back on...and then some. Even worse than that, it may increase your risk of diabetes. Researchers at the National Institute on Aging recorded elevated fasting glucose levels and delayed insulin response -risk factors of diabetes -- in people who skipped meals and overate in the evenings.
Eating regularly will keep your metabolism moving at an even clip, resulting in more calorie burning, even when you're at rest. Many people choose breakfast to skip - bad idea. The morning meal may be the easiest to skip in the AM hustle and bustle, but it sets you up for overeating later. Set the alarm five minutes earlier, and have a piece of toast with peanut butter or some other protein-carbohydrate combo. It'll keep you going and stoke your metabolic fire. Another way to get your metabolism going is to eat small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals. Heading off hunger before it happens will keep your diet and your body on the right track.