My Fatal Five Fitness Goal Saboteurs

Just when we decide that we're going to be better about our diet, exercise more to lose a few pounds -- here come the obstacles. Take a look at these five things that can sabotage your efforts.

DOUBT: This one's simple: If you don't think your program is going to work, then it's not going to work.

If you've never been in shape, you have to believe that somehow, someway this time is going to be different. If you're trying to get back into shape, you have to believe that in the next few weeks and months you'll be getting into the best shape of your life.

You can't doubt. You have to know that what you're doing will work. Otherwise, what's the point?

PERFECTION: Our circumstances will never be perfect, so just do something.

For example, with me, I knew I had to fold the laundry and that it would take a couple of hours, so the basket just sat there full for days. Then finally, I said, let me take 5 minutes to fold just a few things. After 5 minutes here and there over a couple days got the laundry folded and put away. Had I not just started -- even for 5 minutes a shot -- that basket would probably still be sitting there with newly washed clothes piling on top of it.

Don't strive for perfection. Strive for improvement.

UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS: Don't set yourself up for failure by trying to achieve a goal that is nowhere within reach.

If you're 160 pounds and you want to lose 30 pounds in 30 days, forget it. It's not going to happen. Instead shoot for 6 pounds in 30 days. Losing 1-2 pounds a week is attainable and you'll be more likely to keep that weight off.

DOUBLING UP: If you can't keep up, you can't catch up. So if you can't do the minimum today, you can't expect to do twice as much tomorrow.

Skipping a workout today and justifying it by saying you'll do it tomorrow plus whatever else you have planned for that day is a recipe for disaster. Same applies with eating right. If you eat poorly today to tell yourself you'll be perfect tomorrow, you're setting yourself up for failure.

Plan your days -- workouts and meals -- then stick to the plan.

PEOPLE: Significant others. Family. Co-workers. They can all negatively impact your ability to stay focussed.

Family time often means food. (Let's order a pizza.) When you're with your loved ones it gets really easy to overdo it. Spouses often enjoy junk food that you're trying to avoid. (Like pizza, for example.) And co-workers like to bring in desserts and various other treats (not just pizza) that can be hard to avoid. Heck, the work candy dish almost deserves it's own sabotage category.

Doubt. Perfection. Unrealistic expectations. Doubling up. People. My fatal five. Knowing they're around the corner can help you avoid them. There's nothing worse than being caught off guard.