You are not a stupid person. Not by any means. In fact, it’s my guess that you’re healthier than most. You probably exercise regularly. You watch what you eat. You keep up-to-date on the latest health concerns. You don’t binge on sugar. And you never – ever – eat fast food. Well, almost never.

But you do have a few unhealthy skeletons in your closet – ones you probably aren’t even aware of.

1. You’re dehydrated

Around 75 percent of the population is chronically dehydrated. Would you disagree? When was the last time that you actually drank eight glasses of water in a day? Dehydration occurs when more fluid leaves your body than is taken in. Symptoms include fatigue, irritability, headaches, nausea, rapid heart rate and, in extreme cases, even death. Dehydration also slows your metabolism, which hinders weight loss.

2. You eat out too often

Research suggests that most people eat out one out of every four meals and snacks. Restaurant food is designed to do one thing: taste good. In order to increase eating pleasure, each item is loaded with fat, salt and sugar. The main reason people eat out is for convenience, so with a little organization you’ll find that preparing your own meals takes less time than you thought it would. Sit down and plan out your meals for the week.

Pack your lunch and snacks each night before bed, then grab it on your way out the door in the morning. When you prepare dinner at home, make enough for at least the next day.

3. You’re sleep deprived

In Gallup Poll surveys, 56 percent of the adult population reported that drowsiness is a problem in the daytime. Healthy adults require seven to eight hours of sleep each night. The best way to combat sleep deprivation is to set a scheduled bedtime. Your body will benefit from a consistent sleeping and waking routine. If you have trouble falling asleep once you’re in bed, try these tips. First, don’t drink any caffeinated beverages after lunchtime. Second, don’t eat for three hours before you go to bed.

4. You’re stressed out

Our fast-paced life can send our stress levels through the roof. But what you might not realize is that your stress levels are making you fat. Stress creates an increase in the hormone cortisol, and chronic stress creates a chronic increase in cortisol. This slows your metabolism, leads to cravings and is linked to greater levels of abdominal fat storage.

One of the most effective ways to eliminate stress is to sit down and write out a list of all the things that are bothering you. This should include things that you need to get done, issues that weigh on your mind and anything else that raises your stress level.

5. You’re on exercise autopilot

You do the same thing each and every time you exercise. Same machines, same pace, same duration. A plateau occurs when your body adapts to your routine and weight loss stops. You don’t need to increase the amount of time you spend exercising in order to see faster results. It’s all about challenging your body.