Q: Dear Catie:
Is it fattening to eat after 6:00 pm?
nightowl (Denver)
A: It makes absolutely no difference what time of day or night you eat. The worst it could do is cause restless sleep, but it does not slow weight loss.
Q: Dear Catie:
Do stomachs really “shrink”
Connie L. (Atlanta)
A: Yes, they do! Sometimes when losing weight, you will experience minor stomach pains. These are nothing to worry about. It is the stomach shrinking.

Catie Phipps Smith

Q:Dear Catie
I need to lose 20 lbs. Which ‘”diet” or “lo-cal” foods do you recommend?
Annette (Brookhaven, Ill)
A:None of them! When grocery shopping, only shop around the edge of the store. If it is down an aisle, avoid it. Never eat diet, lo-cal, or fat-free foods. They are usually chemical laden and literally slow down weight loss.
Dear Catie:
Q: Everytime I diet, I get terrible leg cramps in the middle of the night. What can I do about this?
Ouch in Nashville, Tn
A: When people lose weight, their electrolytes tend to become imbalanced, and produce leg of toe cramps. Try taking a potassium supplement daily. It should relieve the problem.

My name: Catie Phipps Smith, CEDC (Certifed Eating Disorder counselor)