Well, by now, many of us have made ourselves New Year Resolutions about our health and our weight. You are going to be bombarded in the media with adverts for quick fix weight loss solutions. I ask again that you don’t go on a crash diet. Please make a promise that you will start to adopt a balanced, healthier and happier lifestyle throughout 2011, and take full account of my current series on Weight Loss Myths. Here are the next two to add to your collection!

Crash dieting or skipping meals is a great way to lose weight

In the short term, this may be true but it is important to understand that this type of approach to weight loss removes not only fat but all lean muscle and other tissue in the body.

The loss of muscle and other tissue causes a drop in your basal metabolic rate and therefore the amount of calories that your body needs on a daily basis. This makes weight gain even more likely once you come off your crash diet. Your body´s calorie needs drop so when you go back to "normal" eating, your intake is inevitably too much for your body.

And that says nothing for the damage that this approach does to your metabolism and hormonal system.

Skipping meals can also have a similarly negative effect – putting your body into "hibernation" where it holds onto energy not knowing when the next meal is coming! You also then tend to overeat at your next meal.

Research shows that people who skip meals weigh more than those who eat regular, portion controlled meals.