Outsmart These 5 Diet Downfalls

Diet Derailer: You're a chocoholic.

Girl, you've got company: Chocolate is the food women crave most. "It contains hundreds of compounds that tweak our brain chemistry to make us feel good," Somer says.

To tame your sweet tooth while speeding your slim-down:

Go natural. Add at least one fruit or vegetable that has a sweet flavor -- beets, corn, or sweet potatoes -- to every meal and snack and you'll be less likely to yearn for chocolaty treats. For dessert, top sliced mango with low-fat Greek yogurt and a sprink­­ling of walnuts. ?Mango is sweeter than many other fruits, and its creamy consistency makes it seem indulgent,? Bannan says.

Take a hike. When the Snickers bar in the office vending machine calls your name, lace up your sneaks. A study in the journal Appetite found that a 15-minute stroll reduced chocolate cravings significantly.

Be a connoisseur. Shell out for the good stuff. "One ounce of high-quality chocolate is more satisfying than the less expensive kind, which isn't as rich and flavorful," Somer says. Enjoy it along with a bowl of fiber-packed strawberries, and you'll feel full in no time.

Quick Tip: Sleep 30 minutes more a night. "Extra zzz's will give you energy to power through your day without a sugary pick-me-up," says Donna Arand, PhD, clinical director of the Kettering Sleep Disorders Center in Dayton, Ohio.