By Paula Bowers-Sanchez

Does this sound familiar?

I was talking with a friend last week who is desperately trying to lose weight. I asked what she was doing. She said she had a “plan.”

She skips breakfast, only has a salad or a small soup for lunch, then for dinner maybe a little more soup. OMG. Where’s the protein? Where’s the water? How are you making it through the day?

OK, so…yes, the scale will eventually show lower weight, but at such a price! She’s basically starving herself!

When your calorie intake becomes significantly less than what you expend, your body goes into “starvation mode.” It is a scientific fact that when your calorie count suddenly drops, but your activity level remains the same or higher, your body will compensate by reducing your metabolic rate. It simply refuses to let go of the fat. This explains why some people lose weight up to a certain point and then cannot lose any additional weight, no matter how hard they try.

You literally have to eat yourself thin, not starve yourself thin.

Think of it this way: Keep adding firewood to the fire to keep it burning. That means eating five to six small meals a day to keep your “furnace” working.

Don’t forget to drink plenty of water, too. I usually drink at least 2 liters a day; I carry a water bottle with me everywhere I go. Start by trying to drink at least 1 liter. Replace your Coke, Pepsi or sweet tea at meal times with water. It gets to be a habit after a while, like brushing your teeth every day.

Remember, you only get one body, so take care of it.