Summer. Could you get here, please?

 This is what my front yard looks like in the summer—I can't plant in the backyard. My dogs would dig it up. Anyway, this is to remind me that spring and then summer aren't far off. Enjoy.

5 Awesome Weight Loss Blog Posts

If you're like me, you're always looking for inspiration and motivation--and when it's free, all the better. But I digress. I read a lot of blogs everyday. And many times I find posts that really stand out. Here are few that stood out for me:

1. John is Fit posted this list of free online fitness videos and workouts. Thank you John. You are awesome.
2. The Token Fat Girl recently posted about the power of oatmeal. Thanks for this post. I often forget that oatmeal is powerful and pretty darn tasty, too.
3. Holly shows us how good she looks with a hair cut. Makeovers make us feel great and look fabulous,too.
4. Roni's Weigh gets her cookbook published. How awesome is she?
5. Weight Loss Blogger helps us find motivation to exercise.

Thanks to everyone who writes a weight loss blog. You don't just keep me motivated. You keep me thinking.

Thankful Thursday

Thank you all for the support, friendship, and advice. And thank you for continuing to read my blog. May you be blessed with everything you've always hoped and dreamed for.

5 Tips for Sticking with Your Diet

Having trouble sticking to your diet? We all do from time to time. To really be on top of your game, create a plan that fits your lifestyle and takes into account that there will be tough times.

1. Choose a diet that fits your lifestyle. Low carb, low fat, and low calorie diets all have one thing in common: They will work if you stick with them. But if you choose a low carb diet, and deep down you know there's no way you're going to pass by the bread, maybe it's time to reevaluate. Remember, willpower doesn't have as much to do with whether you succeed as your perception of whether the diet is simple and easy to follow. Also, you may feel physically better on one diet over another. Choose the one that's right for you.

2. Set realistic goals. If you're set to go to the beach next month, losing 100 pounds by then probably isn't going to happen. Aim for one to two pounds per week (when you first start your diet, you may lose more than that but weight loss will quickly taper off). I'd say that even three pounds per week is possible under the right—healthy—circumstances.

3. Don't let one slip upset your whole plan. Everybody gives in to a snack attack at one or another. Just because you did too doesn't mean that's the end of the program and now you'll have to start all over again. It was a slip. Pick yourself up and say, "OK. I ate the Snickers bar. So what? I'm still heading toward my goal. A few too many calories, or too much fat, or whatever right now doesn't mean my future is doomed to failure." Sometimes people with weight problems have an all or nothing mentality. But reality is somewhere in between.

4. Find a support group, either online or in your community. Online support programs like Sparkpeople.com have message boards and ways to find people who have similar goals. Other programs like TOPS or OA get you face-to-face with people like you. Pick one that works for you.

5. Set up a system of non-food rewards. Many bloggers out there like Ann have found rewards that mean more to them than allowing themselves to overindulge and stay embedded in bad habits. Choose something that you really want and use that as enticement to reach your goal. Want a handbag? A piece of jewelry? Whatever it is give yourself permission to use that as a reward.

Don't forget: Sticking to a diet is hard for virtually everyone. Don't beat yourself up for an occasional slip. Look for support. And success can be yours.                                                                                                   

Why is sticking to a resolution so hard?

Create a plan to you success

We set goals and make resolutions. Some of us are more successful than others reaching our goals. Why is that? According to January 3, 2011, Associated Press article, New Year's Resolutions? Brain Can Sabotage Success, we're hardwired to seek immediate reward over a delayed one.

Bad habits become as much as part of our thinking as good ones—perhaps even more so. Whatever it is that gives us pleasure or comfort we will seek out before something that will get us to a long-term goal. When you look at changing long-time dietary habits this way, it's no surprise that great taste beats great nutrition almost every time. But that's no reason to give up. It just gives you more ammo to get to where you want to be. The more you understand where your craving is coming from, the more likely you will be able to overcome it, according to Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

In Volkow's experiments, she studied how the pleasure-inducing chemical dopamine affects people, and how just a little bit of happiness turns into a habit. She says the right cue in the right environment will make the temptation too hard to resist virtually every time. In addition, she says that people believe they can handle more than they can. And it's these people who fall off the wagon more than people who have a more realistic view of what they can handle.

In one experiment, Loran Nordgren, an experimental psychologist and an assistant professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, measured whether heavy smokers could resist lighting up while watching a movie called "Coffee and Cigarettes." Participants were given the choice of watching the film while holding an unlit cigarette, leaving the pack on the table, or leaving the pack in another room. Those who thought they were in control and could hold the cigarette were more likely to lit up than those who left the cigarettes in another room. The temptation turned out to be more insidious depending on how close the cigarettes were.

So what does this tell us? I guess it's what Dr. Oz among others have been saying for a while:
1. If you want to lose weight, get the snacks out of the house,
2. Make your environment conducive to meeting your goals.
3. Use non-food rewards,
4. Repeat the new behavior over and over until it becomes a habit, and
5. Seek support that doesn't jeopardize your success.

Do 5 Things Everyday toward Meeting Your Goal

It was a long weekend after a very long week. Now all I can say is ahhhhh.

Anyway, I was looking at Jack Canfield's' site--you know the guy who brought us Chicken Soup for the Soul--and he suggests that if you really want to succeed, do five things everyday toward achieving your goal. While Jack's plan requires you to sign up for his program for $19.95, I think you can do it yourself (no offense Jack). Anyway, I plan to give it go myself. My five things today are:

1. Eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables,
2. Exercise for at least 10 minutes,
3. Make at least one blog entry,
4. Look at myself in the mirror and tell myself that I can do it, and
5. Meditate for at least five minutes.

OK. While these things seem simple, don't forget: it's the simple things that add up.

P.S. I created a new blog to track my journey to financial freedom--meaning no more debt. My plan is to be debt free in three years. Think I can do it? Wanna watch? Anyway, come see my new blog: Living Free from Financial Worry.

Appetite for Destruction

Do you think that sticking to a diet is all about willpower and dedication? Well, not so, according to a study printed in the February 2010 issue of Appetite and posted on Science Direct. While motivation and dedication play a role in diet adherence, diet complexity matters more in whether you will stick with it.

The researcher team, lead by by Juta Mutta, found that people were more likely to stick to diet that was simple and laid out menu plans and recipes like Brigitte, the German diet program. They compared two diet plans, the German recipe plan and Weight Watchers points plan, in a sample group of 390 participants. Perceived rule complexity was the strongest factor in whether the participants stuck with the program.

"Even if you believe you can succeed, thinking the diet is cognitively complex can undermine your efforts," said Mata, now a professor of psychology at Stanford University.

Mata added that dieting is more than just in your head and relies on environmental factors, such as removing the cookies and other snacks from the pantry, as well as choosing a diet plan that will work for you. Should you decide to choose a plan that's more complex, evaluate the diet rules before beginning to make sure it's plan you can stick with. If it requires doing a lot of calculations and monitoring, you may give way to the complexity after a while and "fall off of the wagon."

This is where many dieters resign themselves to failure. In addition, the researchers said that the longer you can stick to your diet plan, the more likely you are to be able to maintain the weight loss in the future.

What about me?
In truth, I've never liked diets that made me think too hard. I've always liked plans that were pretty much laid out for me. And I've done the best when I have sample menus to go by. So, for me, there seems to be something to this research. What do you think?

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream

Last night I had one of the strangest dreams I've ever had. Now, I've been known to have a mystical dream or two in my time, but this one was really, well, weird. In my dream, I was in a house with some other people for a little a while, but don't recall much about that part. What does stand out, however, was when I was transported to road that curved off into the mountains.

I was standing there looking down the road. I remember being afraid. Once you started down the road, you could come back only up to a point. Once you got passed a certain spot—there was no turning back. When you started down the road, there was a place where you would become one with everything. I got to a point where I was beginning to see "where I needed to go." However, the fear overwhelmed me, and I ran back to where I had started.

When you walked into "this place" that was on the road, you could begin to see the outlines of human-like figures. I found out later that they were spirits. You had to be careful, though, because not all of the spirits in this place had your best interests at heart. In fact, some of them were there to fool you. You were best off if you could find your lost loved ones to guide you. Once you got so far, though, you were no longer in control. And you had to give yourself over the power that was there. I was too afraid to give up my control.

The road had been built a long time ago. And it had been built so well that it would never need repair. You can find this road anytime during your life. It's always there. And you know where it is.

I can't really put into words everything that this dream meant. It was strange. I think I know what it means. But I'm still too afraid to get beyond my need to control everything.

Being Deliberate

Katie J linked to the Christine's blog the Deliberate Life. She linked to a particular post titled "How to Lose 100 Pounds Cheap and Easy." After I read this post, I realized that I haven't been taking my weight loss journey all that seriously. If I want to lose weight, it's up to me to make the right choices and decisions. I know I have to eat less and move more. I know, in truth, there are no miracles. And I am the only one who can lose the weight—no one can do it for me. Even if I were filthy rich and could hire people to do most anything, I still couldn't hire someone to lose weight for me.

Christine recognized that you have to be brutally honest with yourself to succeed. You can't sneak bites of brownie and expect to lose weight. You have to exercise; she chose to walk. Exercise doesn't have to cost a thing. There really are no excuses. So I think I'm getting to a new place—a new mind set. I've been deliberately moving more, no matter how little, just to do it. I'm more conscious of every bite I put in my mouth. I also have a better understanding of why I continue to overeat despite what I know. So now I'm working on moving forward.

P.S. It depends on what's really important to you.

Baby Oil Allergy
Of all things to be allergic to, I'm allergic to baby oil. How do I know? I was using it to soothe dry, winter skin. But I kept getting itchier until finally I developed a full, blown rash. It's just now going away. I had no idea you could be allergic to baby oil. Isn't it made from hypoallergenic ingredients? Well, take a look at the label. Right there it says, "If rash develops, discontinue use." Seriously. So beware of that strange winter rash. It may be from baby oil.

Later—

5 Free Weight Loss and Fitness Sites to Get You Started toward Your Goals

You don't have to shell out a lot of money for great weight-loss support tools. In fact, you can find plenty of free support online. Here are five free weight loss and fitness sites to get started toward your goals:

1. Sparkpeople.com. In my opinion, this is one of best sites on the Internet. It has free diet plans with calories counts, fitness guides and tools, journals, recipes, message boards, blogs, articles, and more. This is the site I go back to time and again for information, support, and inspiration.
2. BuddySlim.com. This site doesn't have the bells and whistles that Sparkpeople.com has, but it's good nonetheless. It also has a free journal, weight loss tracker, fitness planner, and more. And you have support from your dieting buddies. Who wouldn't want that?
3. FitDay.com. This site offers a free online diet journal where you can track food, exercise, and more. The free stuff is limited, but it offers a premium membership that includes a lot more. You do not have to sign up for the premium membership to use the site.
4. Fitwatch.com. This site is completely free. It offers many of the tools that other sites have. But you can also create your own diet groups.
5. Caloriecount.about.com. This site has a database of almost any food you think of, and it's put together pretty well. I've used this site with some success—although I find the food journaling a little more cumbersome than Sparkpeople.com. But I guess I'm biased.

These are just few of the sites that are free. Many, many more exist. And that means that losing weight doesn't have to cost a thing.

Just for Fun: A New Zodiac?

I don't know if you've heard this one or not—but your zodiac sign may not be what you've always thought it was. According to an article in the Huffington Post, the Earth's alignment has changed and many zodiac signs have changed along with it. And if that's not enough, they've added a thirteenth sign: Ophiuchus. It seems that this sign was part of the original zodiac, but if it turns out to be your new sign let me know if you figure out how to pronounce it. 


Anyway, according to the article astronomer Parke Kunkle says that these changes didn't happen over night. It's just that the Earth's position has changed over the past 3,000 years—and that's to be expected. 


These days a lot of people don't give much credence to horoscopes, but some people are avid believers. Because of this, many news organizations are saying your horoscope reading probably won't change that much—even if your sign changes. 


Nonetheless, here are the new signs. 

The New Dates:

Capricorn: Jan. 20 - Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 - March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18 - May 13
Taurus: May 13 - June 21
Gemini: June 21 - July 20
Cancer: July 20 - Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10 - Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16 - Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30 - Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23 - Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29 - Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17 - Jan. 20


I changed from Libra to Virgo—funny I never really felt like a Libra anyway. 

Addiction Reflection

Addiction is something I think about a lot. Lately I've been watching a lot of TV programs that discuss it. I've also been fascinated by the Ted Williams story—the homeless man who shot to fame overnight because of his "golden voice." Williams has now decided that he needs a stint in rehab. And I say good for him.

If you're new to my blog, you may not know that I have a long history with addiction and addicts. I worked at a local homeless shelter while I was in college. My father was an alcoholic as was my husband. I've become pretty keen at knowing when an addict is lying. I've been pretty sure that Williams has been lying about how long he's been sober. I suspect that he hasn't been sober at all. Lying is characteristic in addiction. I have friend who has a history of addiction but has long been sober. He told me that when he was deep into his addiction, he chose to lie even when it made more sense to tell the truth.

In Williams case, lying about his sobriety isn't the worst of his problems. Becoming famous overnight, however, may have been the catalyst to set him off on a binge that he would not have recovered from. But in deciding that rehab was what he needed more than fame is definitely the right choice.

Dr. Phil Uncovers the Truth
When I watched a few excerpts of Williams appearance on Dr. Phil, and I really looked at Williams' face, the fear that I saw was undeniable.  In part of the discussion, William said he was already thinking of going back to Ohio. Dr. Phil told him that would be the biggest mistake he could make. And Williams got that "he knows my secret" look. I know that look. I know all he wanted to do was run and hide. And then drown out everything in river of alcohol.

The reason I'm discussing this today is that I identify wholeheartedly with addiction. While I've spent my life dealing with alcoholics, I've truly been no better off myself. What my family did with alcohol, I do with food. I use it bury what's really bothering me—stuff it down so it can't get out. And it endangers my health.

Some people say they eat no matter what their feeling—happy, sad, whatever. It's all the same. But in reality, it's what they do to feel good. And it's worked—at least for a while.

What is addiction?
Addiction has typically been thought of as a physical dependence on a chemical, such as alcohol, drugs, or tobacco. We usually think of this chemical as something that alters brain chemistry once it's been ingested. But addiction can occur when a particular behavior becomes a repeated pattern that we use to bring comfort to ourselves, despite negative consequences, such as overeating.

My Addiction

When I get upset, I begin to crave chocolate. I can almost taste it. That's how strong the urge becomes. And eating the chocolate make me feel good while I'm eating it. Afterward though, I'm disgusted with myself. I begin to feel guilty. Then I know that I'll never be the person I want to be. But isn't that a funny choice of words? I know I'll never be able to do it. Am I also fulfilling my own prophesy? Do I think I'm a fake? A phony undeserving of happiness? Is that how all addicts think? We just need to be medicated and put away?

Anyway, these are my thoughts these days. And today, I feel like I'm getting to a place where I have some control. So all of this self reflection has done me some good. I hope you find peace, too.

More later—

13 Weight Loss Blogs for Motivation and Inspiration

I look for motivation in the blogs I read. I also identify with the struggles of those who write them. These are the top 12 blogs that I read and lurk on almost everyday. I hope you find some encouragement from them.

1. Ann Is Living Large No More. Ann has become a real confidant and inspiration. I consider her a friend.
2. I just started reading Mindful Martini Mouse. This is the story of a woman who is trying to lose weight while living on the road. She and her husband are long-haul truckers. Imagine the challenges of this lifestyle.
3. A Crazy Little Thing Called Life is truly inspiring. This young lady has already lost quite a bit of weight. But she is also looking for inspiration. Stop by and give her some encouragement.
4. SkinnyHollie. What a journey this lady has had. Health issues, a divorce, and being a single mom haven't stopped this lady from losing more than 60 pounds. Stop by to give her your support.
5. I really identify with Losing Weight After 45 Is a Bitch. Boy, do I ever know that. Lose the weight while you're young. It just gets harder the longer you wait.
6. I read The Heart Scan Blog because it reminds of why I need to lose weight. It also provides great information about heart disease.
7. Jacksh*t Gettin' Fit is just plain funny. What else can I say?
8. My Journey to Fit: A Forty-Somethings Weight Loss Journey inspires me. I know there's still hope.
9. I identify with 266. She's lost a lot weight and journals her struggles along the way. I hope she inspires you, too.
10. What is there to say about Paula Wanna Cracker? She continues to hang around my blog even though I haven't had much success in over a year. But her blog is great. Stop by to give it a read. I'm sure you'll find something to motivate you.
11. Katie J is on Her Way. I just love Katie. She's a warm, friendly woman who chronicles her successes and failures with equal depth.
12. The Bloggest Loser is one of the first weight loss blogs I started reading. I still read it. You can find recipes and inspiration here.
13. A Walk in the Park. Eeek. I almost forgot about Susan. Please forgive me, Susan. This lady has been there for me through a lot of stuff. She is having some concerns of her own right now. Stop by her blog to say hello and let her know you're there for her. Believe me, she'd do the same for you.

This only part of my reading list. I hope you find them as inspiring as I do. Enjoy!

1-11-11

Today is 1-11-11, and at I looked at the clock at exactly 11:11. So what does that mean? Some people believe that 11:11 has a spiritual significance. If you always find yourself looking at the clock at 11:11, you are growing spiritually or are in the presence of a spirit and are being validated. So 1-11-11 would be a particularly auspicious day if you are into numerology and Uri Geller.

On another note, a friend of mine challenged me to do something for myself today that will improve some aspect of my life. Today I spoke up for myself. Now, I won't carry around a lot of frustration. I'd like to extend that challenge to you. What will you do?

27 Confessions

1. I'm still waiting to live up to my potential.
2. I'm a food addict that can't get off "the stuff."
3. I wish my life away.
4. I believe in God.
5. I think climate change is true.
6. I love to exercise, but can't seem to get my butt off the couch right now.
7. I spend more than I make.
8. I regained 30 pounds of the 60 pounds I lost.
9. I love my dogs more than most people.
10. I miss my husband.
11. I pray everyday.
12. I've probably prayed for you.
13. I have known my oldest, dearest friend for more than 40 years.
14. I grew up in poverty.
15. I didn't learn how to drive until I was 19 years old.
16. I still can't swim very well.
17. I've only been married once.
18. I am a widow.
19. I want to retire now.
20. I believe that God listens.
21. I am bored with my current job.
22. I want to volunteer but keep putting it off.
23. I enable people to take advantage of me.
24. If I had my life to live over, I'd make changes.
25. I believe every possibility already exists.
26. I believe in more than I can see.
27. I think that things can only get better.

What scares you?

Have you ever struggled to write a blog post because you couldn't find accurate information? I wanted to write, "50 Ways to Burn 50 Calories," but I'm lacking several ways. In my search for these 50 ways, I did find this interesting page about how many calories you can burn during sex. I think it's meant to be funny, but what the hey. You can burn 50 calories laughing out loud for 10 minutes. I'll keep looking for 50 things to do. Or maybe I'll change my focus and write something else.

You Did What?
On Friday, my nephew found himself in a ditch after a snow storm. What to do? I decided that we could tie a rope to his truck, and I would pull him out of a ditch with my little RAV4. Before you panic and say, "Why the hell would a 52-year-old woman do such a thing?" I gotta tell you, it worked. Why did I do it? It's something I would've done before I decided I was afraid of everything.

My question to you is: Have you reached a point in your life where you fear even the simplest crazy thing? What I mean by that is: Are you more afraid now than you were, oh say, 20 years ago--if you've been alive that long? Or five or 10 years ago if you're younger? Why do you think you're more afraid now? Where do you think the fear comes from? What do you think it would take for your fear to diminish?

I'm trying pretty hard to get past my fears. Before I decided that I would actually pull my nephew's truck, I didn't think about it--not too much anyway. It wasn't until afterward that I went through a list of, "What's the Worst Thing that Could Happen?" Ruining my car was probably the worst. Death didn't even come up.

So why am I scared to death of everything? The odds are really with me. Why am I afraid to make my life into what I really want it to be?

Tell me what scares you.

Move It - Lose It

Dr. Oz is at it again. This time with a Move It — Lose It program. From the website:

"Dr. Oz has teamed up with Sharecare and the Nike SPARQ Training Network, to offer you an easy, interactive and comprehensive 11-week program designed to help you “move it and lose it” in 2011. Together, we provide you with the tools you need to succeed in a complete nutrition, exercise and coaching program created specifically for you to meet your goals, lose the weight and keep it off."

I signed up, but haven't gotten an email back from them yet. 

More later. 

It's the End of World as We Know It

Lots of great comments on my last post about food addiction. While I'm sorry so many people turn to food to comfort themselves, it's a relief to know I'm not alone.

Food has always been a source of comfort to me. Geez, some foods are even referred to as comfort food—mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, all those foods that make you think of home—so they say. I can set myself up for all day craving just by thinking about them—which I have now done. This would really bother me if it weren't so close to end of the world—great segue, huh?

Caught up in the Rapture

I thought the world was supposed to end December 21, 2012. Turns out, according to Harold Camping, it's going to end on May 21, 2011. (Camping is best known for his failed doomsday predictions. He last predicted the world would end in September 1994. I guess he was wrong.) Anyway, May 21, 2011, is really supposed to be the beginning of the Rapture—you know, where the wicked get left behind. The world won't really end until October 21, 2011. I thought I had close to two years. Turns out I've got less than five months.

So that leaves me with a big question: If the world is going to end, why worry about how much I weigh?

All kidding aside, anyone can believe anything they want to believe. I'd just rather not go through life thinking that any day now, it's all going to come crashing down. Yeah, I've done my share of sinning—and probably a couple of others people's too. But I can't face life waiting for some eternal punishment. I know Jesus said that you need to always be prepared because he would return like a thief in the night. But he also said to beware of false prophets. (I think that coming like a thief in the night refers to your own death more than the overall end of the world, but what I do I know?)

But Seriously Folks
Anyway, what's this got to do with weight loss? I guess maybe, and this is a stretch, I'm thinking about losing this weight before it's too late. Yeah, it was a long way around the farm to get here, but that's me—all over the place.

So where does that leave me? Still thinking, that's where.

P.S. All of the dead birds falling from the sky lately have given me reason to pause, but I still can't sit around waiting for the end. Many folklorists will tell you that dead birds are bad omens, but I think they got in the way of some bad weather or fireworks. But if I'm wrong, I guess I'll see you Hell.

12 Signs You're Addicted to Food

According to Recovery for Food Addiction, a 12-step program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous, food addiction has some undeniable signs.  They include—but let me stress this—are not limited to the following: 

1. Preoccupation with Food—thoughts of food keep you from your daily tasks as in:  OK. I ate that, now what can I have? to the point where nothing gets done. Have you ever been in a situation where all you do is think about that cake sitting on the kitchen counter—at your house, a friend's house, your family's house?  
2. Sneaking Food—waiting until family members or friends are out of sight to pull a candy bar out and eat it—or whatever food it is that you have hidden. Have you ever slyly slipped a piece of that cake sitting on the counter into your mouth when you were sure no one was watching? 
3. Stealing Food and Money—have you ever taken your kids' Halloween candy? Need I go on? 
4. Discomfort in No-Food Situations—if they won't be serving anything, I won't be able to handle it until I can get some food. Or I have difficulty dealing people unless I'm able to eat.
5. Keeping Secrets—how much did you really eat today?
6. Concern about Weight—no matter what I do, I can't lose this weight. I'm too fat.
7. Self-loathing—I hate myself because I look like this. I'm so out of control. No one could love me, really.
8. Eating after Others Stop—have you ever finished your kids macaroni and cheese? Have you ever left the dinner table and then immediately made a sandwich?
9. Loss Of Control and Attempts to Control Fail Repeatedly—I try to get myself in check, but I can't. 
10. Self-Deception and the Deception of Others—I barely eat more than anyone else (at least what anyone else knows about).
11. Making Excuses—there's too much going on right now. 
12. Food Is the Main Source of Security Causing Obsession and Compulsion to Take Over—self explanatory, I think.

Change the Way You're Thinking about It

Well, here we are with another new year beginning. And it's that time of year again—when we once again make resolutions to lose weight. Articles like "Simple Ways to Cut 500 Calories" show up on home pages beckoning us to read them. Exercise gadgets are being advertised on every home shopping channel.

We tell ourselves, "This time I'm going to do it." And some of us will. But many of us will fall off the "weight loss wagon" before we even really get going. Why is that? Why do we start out with some zeal only to end up frustrated?

Some psychologists will tell you that this happens because you failed to set specific goals. In other words, set a goal like, "I will lose 10 pounds," rather than just saying, "I will lose weight." I tend to think it goes a little deeper than that—especially if you are an emotional eater, using food to comfort yourself in some way, the way an alcoholic uses alcohol. Oh, I believe that once an emotional eater makes peace with the fact that she (or he) uses food in such a way, she can begin some behavior change modification practices—like setting goals. But I think that simply setting goals won't solve the original problem. That issue is still lurking, ready to throw all of your goal setting out the window.

I was watching a program called, "Intervention." It seems that addicts view the world in black and white—an all or nothing mentality. It's the old, "Well, I ate one piece of candy, I may as well eat the rest" thinking. We can't seem to connect with reality when it comes to eating. Just because you ate one piece doesn't mean that it's over. All it means is that you ate one piece. So what? If I can't be perfect, I can't be anything? Not true.

You've got to change your thinking. That's the first step toward successful, permanent weight loss. And that's what I'm going to be working on this year—changing my thinking. I hope you'll join me.