Easy Tricks to Help You Excuse-Proof Your Diet

By: Alexa Joy Sherman

Oops, I did it again. I gave in to the late-night siren song of Ben & Jerry's blaring from my freezer. As I scarf down New York Super Fudge Chunk, I come up with all kinds of reasons I need, even deserve, it. "We fool ourselves into thinking it's okay to give in to temptation, focusing on short-term gratification instead of long-term consequences," says psychologist Judith S. Beck, PhD, author of The Beck Diet Solution. Here, five diet cop-outs and ways to reclaim control and ditch the excuses -- and the excess pounds -- for good.

Cop-Out: "I'm on vacation."

Everyone deserves a little R&R, but when rest equals a hiatus from exercise, and relaxation means eating everything in sight, you'll be packing more pounds on your return trip. "A few cocktails and three restaurant meals can easily sneak in an extra 2,000 to 3,000 daily calories," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and author of The Flexitarian Diet. "In one week, that can add up to four to six pounds of fat."

Take charge. "Don't plan for perfection; instead, plan to indulge in moderation by paring down portions," Blatner suggests. Tasting the culture is part of the experience, so sample the local delicacies and skip the stuff you can get anywhere. (Brie in France? Oui. French fries? Non.) Do the opposite with vacay libations:Stick with your usual white wine or Bloody Mary as opposed to sugary, umbrella-adorned drinks. Finally, work some calorie-blasting fun into the itinerary: Go sightseeing by bike or try a new activity, like surfing.Related: Eat Like You're on Vacation

Cop-Out: "I have PMS."

Take comfort in the fact that symptoms like cramps and mood swings aren't totally in your head. You may be extra susceptible to carb attacks; although we all experience fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, certain women are more affected by them. "It's possible that those who are prone to PMS experience a drop in the brain chemical serotonin, and that can cause a spike in appetite -- especially cravings for carbohydrates," explains Stephanie Collins Reed, PhD, assistant professor of clinical neurobiology at Columbia University.

Take charge. Tame the PMS monster by tracking your cycle at mymonthlycycles.com (or try the iPeriod app); it will help you keep your blood sugar stable while your hormones ride the roller coaster. In the week before and during your period, reach for healthy, high-fiber snacks every few hours; choose those that provide a steady release of energy and satisfy your sweet -- or salty -- tooth. "Dip four strawberries in two tablespoons melted dark chocolate chips and refrigerate for 10 minutes, or have three cups of air-popped popcorn sprinkled with Parmesan," Blatner suggests. Related: Outsmart Your Hormones

Cop-Out: "But he's eating all that!"

The sexes are supposed to be equal, but our metabolism never got the memo. Men burn more calories at rest because they tend to have more muscle (muscle blasts more calories than fat does). Do the math: A 30-year-old man who is five feet 10 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds burns about 2,600 calories a day, while a woman of the same age, weight and height burns a little more than 2,200 calories a day. "Women are gaining more weight because they're consuming the same huge portions," explains weight-loss expert Jim Karas, author of The 7-Day Energy Surge.

Take charge. Instead of eating like a man, try exercising like one, with an emphasis on strength moves. If you don't have time to hit the weight room, do 10 push-ups and Supermans (lie on your stomach and raise your head, arms, and legs off the ground, as if you're flying, for as long as you can; rest for 30 seconds and repeat). Do three sets every other day and you'll build maximum muscle in minimum time. When mealtime rolls around, have half of what he's having. (Hint: Use a smaller plate to make the difference less obvious.) Related: 5 Ways to Fast-Track Your Strength Training

Cop-Out: "I've been good all week."

You were the picture of dietary perfection Monday through Friday, and now it's time to celebrate with a champagne brunch, a three-course dinner, and an evening of barhopping. Welcome to the weekend weight-gainers club! Researchers from the University of North Carolina discovered that people in the United States consume an average of 115 calories more per day on the weekend. This may not sound like much, but it adds up to an extra five pounds a year (and jeans that are way too tight). Plus, splurging on Saturday and Sunday often spills over into the workweek.

Take charge. Instead of thinking, "TGIF...I can finally eat something," spread out your indulgences -- a frozen yogurt here, a glass of wine there -- through the week. Try not to make the weekend a restaurant marathon; when you are going to eat out, schedule a pre-dinner jog or post-brunch hike. Related: The Drop a Jeans Size Diet

Cop-Out: "I haven't eaten all day."

You bypassed breakfast and hardly touched your lunch, so you feel like the queen of willpower -- until you blow those saved-up calories (and more) on an enormous dinner. Skimping on meals early in the day often backfires because it boosts the production of ghrelin. This sneaky hunger hormone doesn't just encourage you to eat; it also tells you to go for the good, but not good-for-you, stuff. A recent study found that when test subjects either fasted or received a ghrelin injection, they preferred diet-busting munchies like cake, chocolate, and pizza to veggies, salad, and fish.

Take charge. Outsmart your hunger hormones by eating every three hours; research shows that the more often people dine throughout the day, the less likely they are to be obese. "Keep satisfying snacks -- an apple and almonds, cucumber slices and hummus -- at your office or prepped in your fridge," Blatner suggests. Not a frequent eater? Make it a habit by using a food diary, and jot down when you eat in addition to what you eat. If you notice you're going more than three hours without a snack, set a timer to help you stay on track. Related: The Top 10 Make or Break Diet Moments