Timing of Calories

A study in the International Journal of Obesity found that people who ate the majority of their calories after 3 p.m. lost significantly less weight than those who ate their largest meals earlier in the day.

Not only did later eaters lose weight more slowly, they were also more insulin resistant — a risk factor for diabetes. Late eaters were also more likely to eat a small breakfast or skip it altogether.

Avoiding meals and going long periods between eating can mess with your appetite and make weight loss more difficult. One study found that women who skipped meals lost eight fewer pounds than women who did not. Try to eat your biggest meal of the day earlier.