Often I get asked by my clients who come for help to lose weight - "Why can't I lose weight - and keep it off?" This seems to be a common problem, and most people struggling with weight loss go from one diet to the next in the hope of finding that special one that will do the trick. But as you may have guessed already if you've been down that track many times - it is not the diet that does not work, an uncontrollable compulsion deep within you makes you overeat time and again, no matter how determined you are.

What makes us want to lose weight in the first place? Health concerns, the wish to be fit and healthy? Let's be real here, these are the usual reasons and alibis, but deep down we don't give a hoot about health and fitness if we could get social acceptance the way we are - overweight or not. And the cruel reality is - in this society ruled by advertisements and TV programs full of beautiful, slim people we get judged by the way we look. And that has a serious impact on our Body Image.

Body Image is the way we see ourselves, and most overweight people suffer from a very low body image. We see ourselves much worse than the outside world. We put ourselves down and curse ourselves for being overweight, weak and unattractive. As we are confronted with this image every day this is deeply ingrained in our mind. No wonder a quick diet can't fix that.

Our subconscious mind will do whatever it takes to bring us back to what we were used to and comfortable with - being overweight. And it always wins! Unless you know how to teach it to see yourself in a new, a different way.

1 - Breaking through the negative thinking patterns associated with our body image is the first step in overcoming the old programming that forces you to overeat. You can use Self Hypnosis, Neuro Linguistic Programming or my Social Reprogramming Technique to overcome negativity.

2 - Seeing yourself in a different light is the second step, and the easiest way is to manipulate a photo of yourself with Photoshop or a similar program so you have the slim, attractive body you desire. Have several prints in prominent places around your house and each time you see it,say to yourself "That's me, I am slim and attractive". Make sure you say this in the present tense, it works.

3 - Get rid of your scales once and for all. Scales give you a wrong indication of your weight anyway, as most weight-loss through dieting is due to water and muscle loss. The scales will not give you happiness, they make you miserable, so avoid them at all cost. You don't need them.

4 - Write a "Count Your Blessings" sheet. By writing down all the things you are happy and proud about and reading it out aloud to yourself in the morning and in the evening you are re-programming your subconscious mind to accept you as a happy, confident, balanced person. This will help overcome your self-doubt. Keep adding to this list every day.

5 - Establish very clear, and time-bound goals. Only then will your weight-loss plans work successfully, because you are giving your subconscious mind a clear order and path to follow in fulfilling your weight loss dream. Without it it's inevitable that you gain weight again.

Accept that there are real, valid reasons why you are overweight. Only 5% of people really do have a physical or medically proven reason for weight gain, the rest of us have to accept that we are responsible for ourselves, whether we like this nor not. This means we can do something about it. Even if you had massive weight loss through stomach stapling or a gastric bypass you will have to address the underlying causes of what compelled you to overeat in the first place. Otherwise you are in serious danger of your subconscious mind seeking another avenue to engage in compulsive behaviour, replacing your previous overeating with another compulsion. This needs to be addressed if you want to avoid severe mood swings, self-doubt, and depression.