As soon as you declare yourself on a diet it is similar to declaring war with yourself. The war of I want to eat -v- I mustn’t eat.

When you mentally berate and put yourself down you are less likely to want to eat healthily and wisely. What you say to yourself reveals your beliefs and therefore how likely you are to succeed at dieting. ‘Bullying’ yourself makes it harder to ‘keep up the good work’ and easier to fall prey to temptation closely followed by disappointment and resignation.

Be a Thin Thinker
So before you start out on the road to weight loss really decide what’s in it for you. Write down all the things you’ll be especially pleased about when you’re lighter. Avoid negative statements like, ‘I won’t get puffed out so easily.’ Turn them around to: ‘I’ll enjoy playing with the kids and going for bike rides, etc.’

Once you’ve got clear about all the things you’ll enjoy and have then let your mind picture them. See yourself as you want to be, doing all these things. Then mentally experience them. This exercise will help you set off on your path to permanent weight loss.

Along the way there will still be temptations or disappointments. Here are some insights of what to expect as well as some natural aides to keep you on the straight and narrow.

The Primeval Brain - To Know It Is to Control It
Despite our high-tech and sophisticated life-styles we still are driven by some basic needs. Very simply we flee from danger and go towards pleasure. Our instinct is to keep safe and secure and eating for comfort is related to the need to feel safe and secure. Once we recognise this we can choose and use other ways to get comfort, or look at the reasons behind the need.

Rally Your Natural Resources to Help Lose Weight
Eating quickly means you eat more. We have 10,000 taste buds that can make food all the more pleasurable and heighten our enjoyment of it. Eat more slowly and you’ll eat less fatty foods and sugary foods. There are now no forbidden foods. You are free to choose to choose to eat what you like!

Break Old Unhelpful Routines. If you always have something gooey to eat with your coffee, drop the coffee and have a cold drink of water. You can go back to coffee later once you’ve broken the old habit.

Don’t eat just because somebody else is eating. You can do something else or join them later.

Only eat when you’re hungry.

Eat a variety of foods so that you avoid getting bored. You’re more likely to have a ‘pig out’ if you’ve limited yourself to small range of foods.

Drink lots of water. We often eat when in fact we are thirsty.

Build soulful treats and rewards into your life. We often fall into the trap of treating ourselves like naughty children who must be punished during a weight loss campaign. Lighten up and think of some activities you can reward yourself with along the way.

Get moving. Exercise increase the ‘feel good’ factor. Find something you like to do and do it regularly. Even better do it with a friend!

Keep a Journal and put in it all the things you’ve achieved or are proud of. You can do this with pictures, or symbols or mementoes that are special to you. Add to it and review it often.

Get encouragement from close friends or anyone in the family that you know you’ll get good support from.

Build Routine into any changes of eating or exercise or make them part of your normal routine. That way there’s a better chance of you staying on track.

If you’re ready to start making some lasting changes to your weight loss attempts complete this assessment. You will receive my free and ‘no obligations’ response to help you on your way.