There are lots of things you can do. The first and most important starts with your mind. Once you make up your mind, become relentless about your pursuit to live a healthy life, choosing the most nutritious foods in their most natural state and making exercise a regular part of your life, along with sleeping 7 to 8 hours a night. Do what you can to keep in your mind that the new you makes the best choices for your body. Every moment you have a choice. The old you was an emotional eater. Once you begin to create positive things to say to your mind about living in a lean body, making healthful choices, exercising daily, drinking water, etc., then begin to come up with a success plan. That will mean some work initially, but once new habits are established, you never have to go back to the old ones. If necessary, hire a professional to come up with a customized plan for you. The plan should use common sense fresh and wholesome eating guidelines along with regular physical activity.

Work on one habit at a time. If you try to eliminate coffee, eat more vegetables, exercise daily, reduce alcohol consumption and cut out refined sugar, you are setting yourself to fail. Choose one thing you are ready to do. Ideas include working up to drinking 8, 8 ounce glasses of water a day, sleeping 7+ hours a night, interval walking 20+ minutes for 6 days per week, stopping eating by 7 p.m., switching from soda to unsweetened iced tea and so on. Most people know the habits that are doing them harm. They need to decide which ones they are willing to work on.

Next, get support. Find someone who is significant to you who is wiling to support you in your weight loss goals (this may or may not be your spouse). Find a friend, or even an online buddy to share your challenges and successes with. Having the support of a professional such as a life coach, personal trainer or nutritionist will help to empower you with information for your success as well as keep you accountable to someone other than yourself.

Journaling is a tool that is very effective. The more you use it, the more you will get out of it. For at least the first 4 weeks, commit to recording your goals, daily food and beverage intake, exercise, feelings, accomplishments, stress management, etc. You can share your journal with someone who supports your lifestyle change efforts.

Set up rewards. It helps to reward positive behavior (with things other than food). Set up milestones such as, 20 days of consecutive exercise or 7 days of "clean" eating and have a reward ready such as a new workout outfit, running shoes, a massage, a fitness magazine, a pedicure or a pedometer.

Set yourself up for success. Clean any "junk food" or trigger food out of the house. Restock the house with fresh foods. Plan to cook for the week on a Sunday afternoon. Have fresh foods readily available, be organized, eat on a schedule and stay out of the kitchen when not eating. Identify what sets you off to eat emotionally and do what you can to avoid or eliminate it. If you do get temporarily derailed, stop yourself and get back on track immediately. Do not beat yourself up and continue the downward spiral. Remember that you have a choice every moment to make a healthy decision or not!

Keep the end result in the front of your mind. That may be to wear a certain outfit, look a certain way by vacation, and be a certain size or another measure of fitness or health that you aspire to. Know it's possible, believe in yourself and find a program that works. Once you get the momentum going, it will get easier and easier as you are seeing and feeling the results of your efforts.

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