Weight Loss Q&A

Q. I snack at night even when I'm not hungry, and it's causing me to gain weight. How can I stop? My favorite snacks are dry cereal, graham crackers and fruit.

A. "Find activities that de-emphasize eating," says Barbara Gollman, M.S., R.D., a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "Call a friend on the phone or do something that makes it more difficult to eat, like paint your fingernails." But, don't go cold turkey. "Stopping suddenly usually backfires," Gollman says. "Try to taper off gradually."

Rather than sit in front of the TV with a box of cereal, put one or two servings on a plate and put the box in the cupboard. "Otherwise, you could eat 800 calories and never even know it," Gollman says. The first two weeks will be the toughest; after that, you may find it's not difficult to eliminate your snacking habit.

Q. I have been dieting and exercising four to five times a week for three months, but I haven't lost a pound. I have gotten stronger and my legs and arms are more toned and defined, but I want to lose fat, especially around my stomach. What am I doing wrong? I have tried Dexatrim, but that upset my stomach.

A. "First, give yourself credit for sticking with your routine, which is probably working better than you think it is," says fitness consultant Dale Huff. Just because you haven't lost any weight does not mean you haven't lost any fat. It is very likely that you have both gained muscle (hence the increased strength) and lost fat (suggested by the increased muscle definition); however, because muscle weighs more than fat, these changes won't register on the scale.

To continue losing fat, keep up your exercise routine while focusing more on your eating habits. "Try to lose the quick-fix dieting mentality and work on modifying your food behaviors," Huff says. Forget about weight-loss pills like Dexatrim. They're not likely to result in long-term weight loss and, as you've discovered, can have disturbing side effects.

As for losing fat in your midsection, realize that you cannot target specific body parts for weight loss. Your body will follow its own genetic blueprint. Some people gain and lose fat easily from their waists, whereas others gain and lose it more quickly from their hips and thighs.