Expert tips to help you reach your goals

Let’s face it – dieting is hard! Staying focused on healthy eating habits and making time to exercise is difficult because temptation is all around us. Trying not to overindulge at potluck gatherings and choosing to be active when relaxing on the couch is all you really want to do is no easy feat. Nonetheless you’re determined, and despite all the obstacles, you’ve decided you’re going to make it happen.

So, why aren’t you seeing the results you want?

Are you sabotaging your goals towards a healthier, more active life?

Turns out, you’re not alone. With more than 36.5 percent of adults considered to be overweight or obese, according to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), self-sabotage is a bigger problem than most think.

Despite our best intentions, the choices we make when dieting can actually prevent us from our goals.

Her are three of the most common mistakes and easy fixes for diet self-sabotage:

Mistake #1: Skipping meals

It’s almost logical to think that if you skip meals or cut your food intake drastically, you’ll cut out more calories over the course of the day. But skipping meals and cutting back leads to uncontrollable hunger and overeating.

The fix:

Plan out how you can distribute your daily calories over three meals and one or two snacks. It’s easier to practice portion control when you know you’ll be eating every few hours, and you’ll help to break the starve-then-binge habit.

Mistake #2: Watch out for the weekend wipe out

It’s not hard to undo a week of careful eating with merely a few indulgences over the weekend. Your weight isn’t going to budge if you’re constantly taking two steps forward and two steps back.

The fix:

Do your weekly weigh-in on Friday mornings rather than Mondays. If you’ve had a good week, it will show on the scale and will help keep you motivated throughout the weekend. You can also bank a few calories during the week to spend on the weekend, but be careful and make sure you know the calorie content of your indulgences. A margarita and a basket of chips could set you back several hundred calories.

Mistake #3: Too much too soon

If you’re a couch potato who never cooks, do you really think you can suddenly commit to running every single morning and cooking healthy lunches and dinners every day?

The fix:

Set reasonable goals for yourself and prioritize them. Maybe you want to work on your exercise regimen first and seek out healthier choices in restaurants for the time being. You can tackle the home cooking later. An easy option if you’re on the go: opt for meal replacement, such as Herbalife Formula 1 Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix that contains up to 21 vitamins and minerals.

Remember results don’t happen overnight, and it can take weeks for new habits to take hold. Stay focused on a healthier you by eating right, exercising often and following this simple guide to achieve your health goals.