11 biggest health cop-outs that hold you back –

As busy people know, coming up with good-for-you goals, such as snacking on more veggies or carving out enough “me time,” isn’t the issue. It’s making them stick. But, thankfully, there is plenty of good science on how to make your health or fitness goals last for the long haul.

How? Successful changers seek out or stumble onto the right strategies. Weight loss, for instance, is challenging, but researchers have learned that regular weigh-ins increase the chances of success by more than 80%. And when you’re trying to get yourself up off the couch, having a plan B (like using an exercise DVD when rain dampens your enthusiasm for a power walk) makes you 20% more likely to become a habitual exerciser.

Prevention turned to the top researchers in psychology, weight loss, diet, exercise, and more to identify the most common excuses to healthier living and the roadblocks that most often get in the way. Then we gave our experts a challenge: How can you jump over, sneak under, or crash right through the barriers?

Read on for simple solutions to start today.