What Is A Perfect "Diet" Day?

I talk so much about my goals and how I envision achieving them, but I don't seem to be getting anywhere.  I see food diaries from people in Weight Watchers magazine and it seems like something someone else should have to do to reach their goals, I should have it a little easier.  I'm not that heavy shouldn't I be able to have real pasta and not spaghetti squash masquerading as pasta?  I feel like I spend a ton of time thinking about being on a diet and denying myself things and for what?  I suppose I could be heavier and would be, without a doubt, if I didn't try as hard as I do.  What I am not doing is losing weight though, which is the point of all this bullshit I hate so much. 
I keep saying things to myself like "tomorrow I'll have a perfect day" or "good job!  Today was a perfect day".  What does that mean?  And why does it seem like I can string several "perfect" days together and still not get where I want to be?  Are the "imperfect" days really screwing things up that badly? 
What do I think is a perfect day?  Here it is:

• All meals logged and totaling under budget for the day
• Bike ridden for at least 30 minutes
• At least 10,000 steps

That doesn't seem so hard!!  Why am I not doing that most days?  I do feel like I'm improving and have made some progress lately which is great, but mostly I feel like I'm just spinning my wheels.  I think the answer is to keep going with the exercise and adjust my Fitbit.  Either not add my biking minutes to my day or don't count my steps so that my calorie allowance reflects a slightly lower number to help swing things painlessly, almost, in my favor.   There!  I made a plan to help improve my success, now I just have to implement it.