These Disastrous Diet Excuses Could Be Sabotaging Your Goals ...

This is one of the worst diet excuses that is so commonly used. We know how this scenario goes--you push off your diet until the next day, and then that day becomes the day after, and so on and so forth. Then, before you know it, your diet has been pushed back two weeks and you already want to throw in the towel. It's time to break this trend, ladies. Set a date for yourself and put a reminder on your phone. Let your friends and family know that this is the day you're starting so they know not to ask you if you want to try that new burger place in town that day.

A small treat is one thing, but if you ran on the treadmill and burned a few hundred calories, keep in mind that eating a big fast food meal or a high-fat dessert is probably more calories than you actually burned off. Sugar can actually delay your recovery from a workout, so choose your "splurges" wisely, and keep track of your caloric intake so that you can burn off those extra cals that you put in.

The stress hormone, cortisol, can cause you to crave sweets, but after you eat them, your blood sugar rises and then decreases, causing a mood drop. Instead of reaching for junk food when you're stressed, try calming measures like chamomile tea, yoga, or a nice walk outdoors. Revisit whatever it is you're dealing with later when your mind is in a better place.

We get it--it's super annoying to just order a salad when your friends or date are ordering the chicken-fried steak. However, you don't have to settle for just salad when you're on a diet. Instead, go ahead and order the burger, but without the bun, and replace the fries for a side salad with dressing on the side. Also order things like grilled chicken or whole wheat wrap sandwiches. Just remember to eat clean and stay away from high fat, high sodium, and high carbs.

This one's a real kicker. As much as wasting food is just that--a total waste--the reason you have leftovers in the first place is because you either cooked too much food or you placed a large order at a restaurant. Make sure to cook healthy options so that if you do have leftovers, it won't be a bad thing, but if you're cooking more fattening meals for guests or the other members of your family, cook only enough so that there won't be tempting extras sitting in your fridge.

When you eat very little and your calorie intake decreases, your metabolism starts to decrease as well. Instead, try having healthy snacks throughout the day and in between (well-balanced) meals so that your metabolism stays more consistent.

There's a big difference between cheating on your diet and full-fledged ruining it. If you've been having some junkie snacks lately or it's holiday season and you've been having big, heavy meals, it's not too late to get your body back in gear. Make a promise to yourself on a set day (like tip number 1) to start eating clean and eating healthy. Think more greens, lean meat, and healthy fats, and get your health back on track.

Let's face it--the thought of dieting can be tough. But that's just a mindset, so you have to believe that you can do it and follow through with your plan. Know when to pass up a high-fat dessert and choose well-balanced meals instead of heavy meats and potatoes. Also, exercise is of course very important to help shed those extra ell bees. Just remember--you've got this! What diet excuses are you going to stop using?