Everything we do is easier when we have the right mindset. If you know you will achieve and can see yourself achieving your goal, the battle is won. Here are a couple of tips to help you win the battle against excess weight.

1. Emphasise your good points. If your rear end is a little large, ignore it for now and emphasise your best feature. Let us say your neck is graceful and swanlike. Dress to show off your neck.

2. Treat yourself often. Take yourself out to the movies, to visit friends or just for a walk in the sunshine, as a treat for reaching a small target. Every time you lose a pound, celebrate by treating yourself. Make a big deal of every achievement. You deserve it for putting in the work and following your plan.

3. Sit down for every meal. If you are on a diet, you need to celebrate every mouthful. Set the table, use the good china, and make every bite a special treat. Do not eat anything you do not like. Food can be wonderful when it is treated as a delight. Food is not the enemy.

4. If you use small plates, bowls and glasses your mind will think you are eating more. Your mind will see a full plate and tell your stomach it has eaten a plateful. If you want to go for second helpings, you can but wait for about fifteen minutes before you do. There is no reason to rush your meals.

5. Be grateful for all the good things you have. Write a journal and add to it daily. Instead of writing about your lapses, or how bad you feel when compared to slimmer people, write about how good it feels to walk in the early morning air, or how lucky you are to have two legs. There are so many things we take for granted that being a little overweight is not important. So many worse things could happen. Enjoy your life; you only get this one chance at it.