The holidays are over, and winter is coming to a close. Now, it’s finally time to buckle down and lose some weight.

So, you eat the right foods and get some exercise, but those pounds just won’t budge!

Believe it or not, you may be sabotaging yourself without even knowing it. By eliminating these 5 common diet mistakes, you may finally see those pesky pounds fall away.

1. You Eat in Front of the T.V.

It’s dinner time and the big game is on. So, without thinking, you grab a big plate of food and eat in front of the TV.

Experts have found that when your mind is distracted while you are eating, it often blocks the hunger cues that alert your brain that you have eaten enough.

While you are cheering for your favorite team, you will most likely eat more calories than you need, which in turn gets stored as fat.

So, take a break from the TV and sit down at the dinner table.

2. You Don’t Drink Enough Water

When you don’t get enough water, it can have a negative effect on both your appetite as well as your metabolism.

In addition, when you are thirsty, your body often interprets this as hunger and you naturally respond by eating extra calories that you don’t need.

Make sure that you stay hydrated throughout the day. This ensures that your stomach feels full which will help you avoid consuming mindless calories.

3. You Don’t Count Beverages

Many people forget to count beverages toward their overall calorie count for the day. Sugary sodas, sweet teas, and fruit juices are chock-full of calories that will eventually add extra inches to your waistline.

And if that’s not enough, studies show that your body doesn’t register liquid calories the same way that it registers solid calories. As a result, you often end up drinking more calories to feel full.

So, if you want to be completely safe, just stick with water.

4. You Fall for False Health Labels

Make sure that you always read the ingredient list and nutritional information on all packaged foods that you consume.

Many foods display their products as “sugar-free,” “all-natural,” or “low-fat” to entice you to buy it.

In addition, you may also perceive that a food is nutritious because of common buzzwords like “gluten-free” or “organic.” As a result, you may end up misjudging how many calories the food contains.

According to a study from Cornell University, people who think they are eating healthy foods, tend to eat 131% more calories than they otherwise would.

That’s why you want to make sure that you know exactly what you are putting into your body.

5. You Eat When You’re in a Rush

Often times the first thing you do when you’re in a rush is to eat your food as quickly as possible.

Studies suggest that you should take at least 20 minutes to eat each meal. This is the amount of time that it takes for your stomach to signal to your brain that you’re full.

It’s also why you want to avoid fast-food. You end up eating the calorie-laden meal before you even realize that you have had enough!

Final Thoughts

So, if you’re struggling to lose that extra weight, don’t despair. There may be some simple changes that you can make in your diet that will help you on your quest to a healthier lifestyle.