The new year is the perfect time to start a new diet, but we often make mistakes that prevent us from reaching our dieting goals – from buying the wrong pair of supportive sneakers for workouts to buying the wrong groceries. This is particularly common for people who have already developed poor eating habits.

Without a diet coach or nutritionist, you may not even be aware of the mistakes you’re making when approaching a new diet. This article will cover some of the most common diet mistakes to keep in mind as you start dieting in the new year.

Dieting Alone

Some people have the right personality to diet on their own, but most of us do better when we’re working with an accountability partner. These are usually friends or relatives who hold you accountable for your progress and help you stay on track.

Accountability partners give you a reason outside yourself to keep making progress and avoid any relapses. You might not think you need one for the first few weeks, but they’re extremely helpful when you start losing motivation.

It’s critical to look for trust when considering an accountability partner, since they need to know that you’ll tell the truth, and you need to know that they’ll stay invested in your progress. You should consider asking someone who’s also interested in dieting so that you can hold each other accountable and approach it as a common goal.

Unrealistic Goals

Goals are a vital aspect of any dieting plan, but setting unrealistic goals can lead to discouragement later on. It’s better to start small and adjust later than to set goals that you won’t be able to reach.

Impossible or impractical goals can also result in burnout when you try to change too much at once. Altering your habits takes time, so it’s important to set realistic expectations from the beginning.

Drinking Too Much

Even occasional drinking has been linked to health problems, and alcohol also contains more calories than you might think. Drinking alcohol is one of the most common things people overlook when they start changing their diet.

A single glass of wine, for example, can contain well over 250 calories, which adds up to thousands per week if you’re drinking regularly. Aside from cutting back, you can also switch to vodka sodas or other low-calorie drinks to limit the effect of alcohol on your diet.

Even small adjustments to your eating habits can make a big difference, but failing to fix these mistakes could hold you back from sustainable progress in 2020 and beyond. These are just three of the most common errors people make when starting a new diet.