It seems logical that pausing to think before you eat something unhealthy would help you talk yourself out of it. In fact, an analysis of 50 studies found that pausing to think actually gives us time to rationalize poor eating decisions. For instance: “It’s my birthday week!” or “It was a hard day, so I deserve it.” (Sound familiar?) The researchers warn that this kind of excuse making can be a slippery slope, undermining your overall diet rules.

READ MORE: Conscious Eating Improves Body Image