One of the most made, if not *the* most made, yet least kept of all New Year's resolutions is that of losing weight.

Every January 1st, millions upon millions of people set out to try to lose their excess pounds once and for all.

Unfortunately...

The overwhelming majority of these well-intentioned folks fail.

Why?

Here, in my opinion, are the three biggest reasons why people who try to lose weight don't:

Reason #1 - They “try" to lose weight.

The word “try" is, in my opinion, the single biggest “weasel word" in the entire English language.

Why do I call it a “weasel word", you ask?

Simple...

The word “try", by its very definition, comes with a built-in “escape hatch".

If you say you'll “try" to do something and you don't, you can always use your “escape hatch" and “weasel" out of it by saying...

"Well, I tried!"

Here's the deal...

You either will do something or you won't do something...

You either do something or you don't do something...

There's no such thing as “trying" to do something!

Think about it...

"Try" to read this article.

You can't, can you?

You either will read this article or you won't read this article...

You either do read this article or you don't read this article...

You can't “try" to read this article.

Nor...

Can you “try" to lose weight.

You either will lose weight or you won't lose weight...

You either do lose weight or you don't lose weight...

It's that simple!

Reason #2 - They focus on what they don't want.

There's a Creative Power within you that makes you into the image of that to which you give your attention.

Most people who set out to lose weight start out by saying something like...

"I want to lose 50 pounds".

Question...

If you make a statement to yourself like...

"I want to lose 50 pounds"...

What are you giving your attention to?

Those excess 50 pounds, right?

Therefore...

Since that's what you're giving your attention to...

That's exactly what you'll have...

Those excess 50 pounds!

In other words...

By making a statement like...

"I want to lose 50 pounds"...

You're subconsciously setting yourself up for failure before you even begin.

So...

What should you do instead?

Simple...

In his book “The Personal Power Course", Wallace D. Wattles, best known for his classic masterpiece “The Science of Getting Rich", wrote:

"... whenever you think of your physical self... think of the IDEAL BODY WHICH YOU ARE BUILDING, and not of the body which now is."

And...

Therein lies the secret to successfully losing weight.

If you weigh 200 pounds and you want to weigh 150 pounds...

Rather than say...

"I want to lose 50 pounds"...

Say...

"I want to weigh 150 pounds"...

Or...

Even better...

"I weigh 150 pounds".

Then...

Form a clear and definite mental image of “the ideal body which you are building" and hold that image in your thoughts “whenever you think of your physical self".

Reason #3 - They hop on the scale every five minutes.

Many people who begin a weight loss program feel this overwhelming need to hop on the scale every five minutes to see if their weight loss program is working.

Now...

"Every five minutes" may be a bit of an exaggeration, but for some it's not far from the truth. :-)

Here's a question for you to ponder...

If you “hop on the scale" anytime before you have the ideal body you want, are you thinking of “the ideal body which you are building" or of “the body which now is"?

Think about it.

Remember...

There's a Creative Power within you that makes you into the image of that to which you give your attention.

So...

If you *really* want to shed your excess pounds this New Year...

Here's my advice:

1. Decide *exactly* how much you want to weigh and that you *will* weigh what you want to weigh.

2. Form a clear and definite mental image of “the ideal body which you are building" and hold that image in your thoughts “whenever you think of your physical self".

3. Stay off the scale (and away from mirrors :-)).

With that...

I wish you and your loved ones a wealthy, healthy, successful!

Have you ever gone to your weight loss meeting and after the meeting made a b-line to a fast food restaurant with your fast food restaurant calorie book in tow? You know that you have a whole week before the next meeting ...... plenty of time to still lose some weight.

I've done that.

You seem to have momentarily forgotten about your resolve to shed those .pounds., once and for all. If you can relate to the above scenario in which I told myself a story .about .the trip to the fast food restaurant, perhaps you'll also relate to the three tricks below. In each case, I use a different trick to help me cope with the reality of the weigh-in.

1. Throw off Excess Baggage

Have you ever gotten on the scale with all of your clothes on, shoes included, fearing that you may have gained some weight? Then you begin to gradually remove items. Your jacket, (yes, I had my jacket on), then your shoes, then socks, your pullover shirt, the next shirt, watch, earrings and necklace ... stepping on then stepping off the scale after each removal, noting the decrease in your weight each time? You're literally losing weight right before your very eyes. How wonderful! And after removing the last article of clothing allowable (so as not to be streaking in the house), you arrive at your true weight which somehow, even though you may have gained, doesn't come with quite the same blow as having to see it from the get go.

Yes, I have done that.

2. Postpone the Weigh In

Have you ever weighed yourself on a doctor's office type of scale and set it at the weight you were the last time you weighed? And when you step on the scale, if the weighing arm slams to the top of the gauge, you know you've gained. You get off, and go on about your business without knowing exactly how much you've gained. Heck, for all you know you may have just gained tenths of a pound. No big deal. You'll weigh again in a couple of days, after you've been more disciplined about sticking to your plan.

Yes, I have done that.

3. Eliminate Waste

How about this one ... Have you ever gotten up in the morning, jumped on the scale like experts suggest; stating that it’s the best time to weigh? You make a mental note of that weight then go get rid of all the “water" in your bladder from the night before, step on the scale, and lo and behold, you've lost nearly a pound! What a wonderful thing. Next, if you can, you make a “move" to “eliminate" anything heavier and you're off to a great start.

As you know, watching your weight can be difficult. It truly is a journey. Along with your tried and true weight loss program, feel free to use a couple of these ideas to ease some of the pain from time to time along the way. It could be just the thing you need to get you through another weight watching day.

Shelly Crawford is Senior Vice President of Weight Loss Partners LLC, a motivational and accountability company pertaining to long term weight management. Shelly is a Personal Trainer and Fitness Coach: Certified Principles of Group Exercise and Advance Resistance Training. Weight Loss Partners stresses a team approach to weight loss with the goal of building a foundation for living a healthy lifestyle for years to come.

How many times have you tried to lose weight? More than you'd care to count, right? Most of us, at some time, have looked at diet books, diet pills, potions, anything we could find to get rid of unwanted pounds.

My question is not “did any of these methods work, long term?" because I am pretty sure the answer is “no." My question is “how often did you weigh yourself, and did it help?" I suppose if you are currently trying to lose weight, you can simply change the “did" to “do and does."

You should know that I once weighed about 25 pounds more than I do today. I have been on many different diets, and, for me, none of them worked. Well, they did work, while I was on them. But once I stopped the diet, the weight came right back. While I don't exactly remember all the diets I've been on, I do remember the scales I've been weighed on-both my own, and at the group meetings I used to attend.

And when I belonged to group programs, I remember I wouldn't eat the day of the meeting, because we had to weigh in. Then, after the meeting I would go out and eat. I'm afraid I wasn't a very good groupie.

Let me tell you about my experience with owning a scale. I have one of those professional scales. You know, the ones you've used in the doctors’ office. Many years ago I conducted my first weight control group out of my living room in State College, PA. I suppose it's a good one, because it still works.

Over the years, I have found that weighing myself doesn't really help me with controlling my eating. I used to weigh myself all the time. I'd weigh myself at the beginning of the day, and then at the end of the day. Eventually I learned that the numbers on the scale weren't always very helpful. I always weighed more at the end of the day-who doesn't? But it wasn't fat-it was the weight of all I'd eaten during the day that hadn't been digested.

As I “evolved" my weight control programs, I would only weigh myself every few days. But even that didn't help me. See, if I found I had gained weight, I would be depressed, and I would eat more. Conversely, if I saw I had lost weight, I would be very excited, thinking, “If I did this before, I can do it again." Guess what I would do? Yes, I would eat. So, for me, weighing myself every few days was no help at all!

Everyone will discover his or her own weight strategies-healthy or not. I think, for me, the best thing is to just not weigh myself at all, or perhaps maybe once every few weeks. The reality is, I know when I have overeaten. Luckily for me, I don't punish myself, and I try to just move forward. I have learned to balance my overeating with periods of eating less-and according to my doctors’ scale; my weight has stayed the same for the last 10 years (plus or minus a pound or two).

If you are a person who weighs yourself all the time, try giving yourself a week off-you know you deserve it. Pay attention to how you are feeling, emotionally. Hopefully, giving yourself this week off will be a liberating experience. Maybe you will be able to discover something about your behavior. Maybe you will discover you don't have to be a slave to a scale, and you don't have to be a slave to your diet.

When you learn to trust yourself not to depend on a single number, you will be able to trust yourself to make the correct choices for yourself. Perhaps...over time.. you may discover a way to lose weight-a whole new way.

What is a weight loss chart? A weight loss chart serves as a guide to help you record and track your progress and keep on track for your weight loss goals

It is easy to make your own weight loss chart but it is easier and faster to download a free chart from the internet. Many websites offer free weight loss charts. Ideally you need to print it out so that you can physically write on the chart.

Once you print out your weight loss chart, hang it up in a location that is easily visible to you. There is little point storing the chart away, it's best to hang it from a wall. You can hang it at the back of your bathroom door or at the back of your bedroom door as well. But the best place to hang a weight loss chart is at the refrigerator door. Do you know the reason, right?

Why do weight loss charts help?

They allow you to quickly record your daily progress. You can write down what you've eaten, the exercise you've done and of course, your weight for the day.

What is the best time to weigh?

It is best to weigh yourself first thing in the morning, before eating anything. It is vital to only weigh yourself at the same time everyday to avoid fluctuations.

This is one of the best ways for you to stay motivated and on track to achieve your weight loss goals. Printable weight loss charts from the internet are free and easy to use, so make sure you download one today.