Ask Dr. Schwarz

I just need one good weight loss tip. Do you have one for me?

Everyone on a diet needs more than just one weight loss tip. Here are some.

• Before you start your diet, make a list of 10 ways you envision your life will be better once you lose weight. This is a powerful way to keep you motivated.



• Do you know a woman who dieted successfully and kept the weight off? Talk to her―she’s just the person to give you new ideas about how to do it.



• No matter where you are in the diet process, make yourself this promise: whenever I cheat, I will forgive myself and resume my diet as soon as possible. This will prevent you from giving up because of a slip.



• Reducing stress in your life greatly contributes to diet success. Develop effective ways to handle things like fatigue, anxiety, having too much to do, being stretched to the limit. Then you won’t need to eat in order to deal with these things.



• During your weight loss journey, especially at the beginning, try to control your environment. As much as possible, avoid people and situations that may be too tempting in terms of overeating.



• When you are doing something as important as changing your eating habits to lose weight, a helping relationship can be critical. See where you can get some extra support―from a group, a family member, or a nonjudgmental friend.



• Belief in yourself is essential if you are to solve a long-term eating problem. To strengthen your feeling that you can do it, make a list of all the abilities you have that will help you get there.



• Don’t be discouraged if this is your second or third or fourth try at losing weight. People who are successful at changing bad habits almost always need a number of tries before they can really do it.



• While you diet, it is good to ease up on yourself in other areas of your life. Don’t try to change too many habits at once. Just concentrate on changing your eating and relax other restrictions on yourself.



• Losing weight requires a serious effort. So put your diet and all that goes with it at the top of your priority list for each day. Give it the attention it needs and you will be your own weight loss success story.