DIETING RULES

FOUR DIET RULES YOU CAN BREAK:

Is your diet ruining your life? It doesn't have to. Here are four diet rules you can break . . .

#1.) EATING FIVE SMALL MEALS A DAY. Instead of breakfast, lunch, and dinner, some diet books tell you to eat five small meals a day. But most people end up eating five REGULAR meals instead.

So if you'd rather stick with three square meals, just make sure they're high in fiber. Between 21 and 25 grams a day will fill you up, and you won't be tempted to snack in between meals.

#2.) AVOIDING CARBS. According to a recent study, people who eat SOME carbs . . . including "bad" carbs like white bread . . . actually weigh less on average than people who avoid them altogether. The Department Of Agriculture suggests six ounces of carbs a day.

Just make sure at least half come from whole grains.

#3.) EATING LATE AT NIGHT. A study published in the 'European Journal Of Clinical Nutrition' found that obese people DO tend to eat late dinners. But it's not clear if that's to blame, because they also eat more in GENERAL.

And a recent study by the USDA showed that our metabolism hums along at the same rate regardless. Plus, eating a late dinner has one major advantage. People who do it generally don't indulge in as many late-night snacks.

#4.) SKIPPING DESSERT. Restaurant entrees are so huge, you never really NEED a high-calorie dessert. But that doesn't mean you don't WANT one. So plan ahead. Instead of eating dinner THEN checking the dessert menu, ask to see both menus when you first sit down.

Then if you decide you DO want dessert, just have a smaller dinner. (WomensHealthMag.com)