1. I’ve Trimmed The Fat, So Why Am I Still Gaining?
2. Do Crash Diets Cause Gallstones?
3. Are Late Dinners Really More Fattening?

I’ve Trimmed The Fat, So Why Am I Still Gaining?  My doctor told me that I need to lose 30 pounds, so over the past month I’ve stuck to low-fat meals and snacks like unbuttered popcorn.  But I’ve only lost 3 pounds—and I’m starving!  What’s wrong? 

Here’s the skinny: Eating the right type of low-fat foods—mainly water rich fruit (like melon and berries), veggies (like tomatoes and lettuce), broth-based soups and low-fat dairy—can be a better weight-loss strategy than simply reducing fat intake.  In a Penn State study, women who followed such a water-rich low-fat diet felt less hungry and lost 33 percent more weight in six months than women who just cut back on fat.  The reason: The sheer volume of such foods fills you up faster, so the weight comes off easily.  To get the benefits, enjoy a veggie-packed stew or soup (like lentil or chicken-vegetable) as your main meal several times a week. 

Do Crash Diets Cause Gallstones?   I’m determined to zip myself into my favorite party dress, and I found a great plan to help me drop 12 pounds fast.  But while looking into the diet, I read a post online that said quick weight loss can lead to gallstones.  Is that accurate? 

It’s true that some very low-calorie diets lack the fat needed to make the gallbladder contract enough to dispose of bile.  This allows gallstones to form.  But that doesn’t mean you have to set your dress aside.  Instead, snack on nuts (like almonds or cashews) or sunflower and pumpkin seeds between meals, or sprinkle a handful of nuts or seeds on salads.  This will give your body enough fat to help the gallbladder function properly, cutting the risk of gallstones. 

Are Late Dinners Really More Fattening?  I get home from work around 8 P.M., so I don’t eat until 9 P.M. or later.  The other night I was talking to my sister while making dinner, and she said my late-night meals are probably why I can’t seem to lose weight.  Is she right?

Many nutritionists advise not eating after 8 P.M., claiming that calories will “sit” in your stomach.  But actually, the average person burns 400 calories while sleeping.  So I believe it doesn’t matter when you eat.  Still, it does make sense to spread calories evenly throughout the day to avoid the blood sugar crashes that trigger cravings.  Simply eat six mini meals rather than three squares.  Try to eat midmorning, midafternoon and an hour before bedtime.  This ensures you’ll always feel comfortably full, which will help you avoid the common fat trap of eating six mini meals before 9 P.M., then having dinner, too.