10 little excuses that prevent weight loss

This is quoted from another source...not me...so, take what you will out of it.

1. "it's just a bite" A forkful of mac ‘n cheese here, a few fries there; how bad can that be? “For every 100 extra calories you consume daily, you gain 10 pounds each year

2. "it's made with fruit" You’ll see this splashed across juices, fruit snacks and cereals, but these “fruits” are often mostly sugar.

3. "I just worked out and need to refuel" While it’s smart to refuel and stimulate muscle repair with a snack that combines carbs and protein (like Greek yogurt and fruit), remember to factor those calories into your day.

4. "I'll eat this now and just skip dinner" in one study in JAMA Internal Medicine, people who skipped meals were more likely than regular eaters to eat high-calorie foods, like carbs and protein, over vegetables.

5. "I popped a multi vitamin so, I'm healthy" It appears that making one healthy choice (the vitamin) makes people feel less vulnerable to the consequences of unhealthy habits (buffet eating, being a couch potato). While research shows multivitamins can improve your mood and reduce stress, it can’t turn you into superwoman or superman.

6. "it's healthy" adults eating at Subway underestimated their meal’s calories more than at McDonald’s. Healthy or not, portion control is key.

7. "after that pancake, my diet is totally blown" Some perspective: A meal or extra 250 calories (which is like one pancake with syrup) one day won’t make or break your diet. It’s when you think you’ve ruined it and, since you’re feeling badly, indulge in a few cookies or a burger with fries.

8. "it doesn't matter what time I eat" Being an early bird has its perks: A study in the International Journal of Obesity found that people who ate lunch before 3 p.m. lost more weight over 20 weeks than later lunchers

9. "I'm off on the weekends" There are about eight weekend days in a month—that’s a lot of time! Save splurges for holidays, weddings and other parties—not twice a week all day. If your weekday diet is so restrictive that you feel the need to overeat on weekends, adopt small, doable habits that stick every day of the week.

10. "if it says low fat or low calorie, it's good to eat" The problem with low-cal packaged stuff is that these are often pumped with added sugar to make them taste good. But their lack of nutritious ingredients leaves you unsatisfied. So you may open a few 100-calorie packs—not just one. Limit your intake of these and choose real, wholesome foods whenever possible