SINGAPORE — They say we are what we eat — and apparently, how we eat it, too. If you have hit a plateau in your fitness or weight loss regime, you can probably blame it on bad eating habits. 

We’re not talking about eating dessert before the main course (yes, some people do that); but things such as eating while on the move, or even skipping meals. 

Here then, are five of the biggest eating habits we probably guilty of and why we should cut them out right now.

1. SKIPPING BREAKFAST. Unless you’re one of those who can will yourself awake at 6am in the morning to prepare yourself a hearty brekkie, many of us probably don’t eat breakfast before running out of the house. It’s one of the hardest habits to break — especially for working adults — but having a full breakfast (or first meal, depending on the time you wake up) will give you the energy you need for the day and will prevent you from overeating or making poor dietary choices for lunch and dinner. 
Keep a box of cereal and milk in the office — cereal takes zero effort and time to prepare, and you can easily slurp it down before heading to your morning meetings. Ready-to-eat oats and granola bars are also alternatives (try those with less sugar content) — just as long as it fits in with your plan.

2. MULTI-TASKING WHILE EATING. Turn off the TV, put your laptop to sleep and stay away from constantly going on social media during mealtimes — it’s time to actually start paying attention to what you are putting into your mouth. Being mindful of what you’re eating makes it hard to ignore poor meal choices — such as the fact that you’ve had fried chicken four times in a week — and allows your brain to be more aware of when your body is truly satiated, giving you more control over your portions and cravings. 

3. COUNTING THE CALORIES YOU EAT. Strange but true. Counting calories is a big part of many a diet, but the truth is, it often backfires. The constant worry about how many calories you’re putting into your body can cause undue stress, which can result in increased cravings for fatty and sugary food and the storage of belly fat. Also, it’s not just about how many calories you’re consuming, but the quality of those calories and when you consume it.

4. DRINKING TOO MUCH ALCOHOL. As much fun as you may be after a couple of martinis (or in some people’s cases, beer), you should probably put that glass down. Most alcoholic drinks not only contain a huge load of calories and sugar; being inebriated also lowers inhibitions and increases your appetite, so you drink and eat more. Because we believe in balance, keep the drinking to once or twice a week with a maximum of two drinks.

5. NOT DRINKING ENOUGH WATER. Conversely, drinking water is a must. Water an essential part of making sure our bodies are functioning well and keeping us alive — the body can go for three weeks without food (if you have water and a shelter) but only three days without water (if you’re sheltered from harsh environments such as being stuck in Antarctica or the middle of the Sahara desert).
But water also helps regulate our metabolism and fat-burning systems. Our metabolic rate actually increases when we’re fully hydrated. Plus, our bodies often confuse thirst for hunger, so drinking ample water not only helps us avoid that confusion, it also keeps us full so we don’t overeat.

A version of this story first appeared in ELLE.sg