Should You Fast Before You Feast?

To handle huge holiday meals, some women admit to skipping other meals to "save" calories—in fact, 52 percent of women say they've done just that. Unfortunately, starving yourself before a big meal could result in other health problems like headaches, indigestion and fatigue—plus, research suggests that these women eat at least 35 percent more food when they are ready to eat, not exactly the strategy they were going for.

Instead, try this trick when you have a special feast coming up: Eat three healthy meals a day—breakfast, lunch and dinner. And on the day of your large meal, add some protein to your lunch, whether it's meat, eggs or cheese. People who tried this ate 31 percent fewer calories at evening meals, plus the protein spurs the release of hormones that can control appetite for five hours—just long enough to conquer those holiday cravings!