Q: I work long hours and sometimes get so busy that I totally forget to eat lunch. I make it to the gym several times a week and really feel like I don't eat very much, so why am I having such a hard time losing weight?

A: Part of your problem may be your metabolism! Metabolism is the rate at which your body burns calories to sustain life. Your body needs energy all day whether you are sleeping, sitting or exercising. By skipping meals, your metabolic thermostat shuts down to conserve energy while waiting for appropriate fuel. This is why skipping meals can actually hurt your weight loss efforts rather than help.

I strongly advocate the idea of mini-meals especially when you are so busy at work that you can't take time to go to lunch. Bring healthy snacks to work—almonds, apples, string cheese, yogurt just to name a few! Mini-meals help you succeed on both mental and physical levels. Psychologically, mini-meals can help reduce cravings or poor food choices out of sheer hunger! Physically, eating small amounts every two to four hours helps to keep your blood sugar on an even keel and may even help your metabolism to keep burning at a higher rate.

You say you work out regularly but are you doing any strength training? Muscle is the other secret to keeping your metabolism revved! Muscle eats more calories at a resting heart rate than body fat so the more muscle on your body, the more calories you burn daily whether you workout or not. Starting at around the age of 35, women start to lose 1/2-1 pound of muscle a year unless you are actively doing something to keep it up.