losing weight

The sandwich generation — those of us (usually women over 45) squeezed by the competing demands of kids, aging parents, work, community, romantic partner and so on — rarely have time to think about the things that will make us feel fit and stylish.

For middle-age adults trying to lose weight, is it better to cut back on carbs, like white bread, rice, crackers and cake, and not worry so much about fat? Or is fat the real evil, and you need to avoid eating too much meat, butter and cheese to drop those pounds?

For those perennial fights over the thermostat - "Turn it down, it's too hot!" "Turn it up, it's too cold!" - science may have some new ammunition. Turns out that turning down the thermostat revs up our metabolism and may help us lose weight, according to new research.

It's familiar advice to dieters: Eat five small meals a day, instead of two big ones, and you'll stave off hunger and lose more weight.