I'm a new mom with a nine-month-old daughter. I was overweight when I became pregnant, lost some weight after delivery but now am gaining again. I try to walk at least two miles each day and have just started a weight-training program. I want to lose weight and have heard that eating five small meals a day will increase metabolism. Is that true? -- Cheri

The only true way to increase metabolism is by increasing muscle mass, that is, weight training. We aren't able to increase metabolism by huge amounts, but even burning an extra 50 calories each day adds up over time.

Some people find that eating five or six small meals helps limit their hunger and, therefore, their calorie intake. Our bodies store any excess calories as fat, so it makes sense to not overload our system with calories at any one point.

Most of us want to lose weight quickly, but in reality most people lose weight slowly, perhaps one to two pounds each month. Focus on small goals that are behavior-related, such as the number of servings of fruit you eat each day, the number of times you eat for emotional reasons instead of hunger, or the miles you log walking. If you make gradual changes, the weight will come off in time.

You might want to read Thin for Life: 10 Keys to Success from People Who Have Lost Weight and Kept It Off, by Anne Fletcher, MS, RD. It has loads of practical tips from people who have been there.

Sincerely,
Lynn Grieger, RD, CD, CDE