If I am So Smart, Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

Ask yourself, “Why am I overweight?”
Your first answer will be that you eat more than your body requires for fuel.
Your second answer will be that you don’t exercise enough.
Then ask yourself, “Why don’t I eat better fuel or exercise enough?”
Write down your answer.
Knowing the answer to this question is imperitive if you want to lose weight permanently. You need to know what got you here in the first place so you won’t repeat it. Revisit this question often. Anytime you miss a workout or overeat ask yourself, “Why am I eating this?” or “Why am I doing this?”

Never let yourself get too hungry and stop the minute you are full.
So many of us wait way to long to eat. We get really, really hungry and then eat more than we really need. Make sure you keep food with you so you can eat high grade fuel the minute you get hungry. Try to eat protein with each meal to keep you sated for longer. Stop eating the minute you get sated. No matter if you are in the middle of a bite, put the food down when your stomach is done. You should feel light and energized after every meal or snack. Remind yourself that you can eat the minute you get hungry again.
How can you plan to eat when you are hungry? Write down your ideas.

Stop being mean to yourself.
Watch how you talk to yourself during the day. Notice the thoughts you have and how they make you feel. Are you kind to yourself. Do you encourage yourself? Do you give yourself the gift of patience? Through the process of losing weight and understanding how you got overweight in the first place, show yourself some common decency. You would never let someone else be as mean to you as you are to yourself-you would never choose them as a friend. So make sure you are being a good friend to yourelf.
Write down the ways in which you are mean to yourself.
What are the thoughts that you are having on a daily basis about yourself?
Know that when you are losing weight there will be times you want to eat when you aren’t hungry. If you can be kind to yourself during these times you might begin to understand why you feel like eating and then with that knowledge begin to change it.

These three tools have been summarized and simplified from "If I am So Smart, Why Can’t I Lose Weight?" by Brooke Castillo

Book Review

Among the many diet and weight loss books published each year, this is one that provides a realistic and effective program for changing your thinking about eating and dieting. Some of the book is about feelings, some of the book is about goal setting, some of the book is about self management and some of the book is about eating itself. While there are questions to write about, it is not just a book of self awareness exercises. The book explains a viewpoint that frees you from old habits of thinking related to food as well as your feelings about yourself. The process described helps you examine the deeper reasons it is hard to regulate yourself in any area of your life.

This book takes all the piece parts from all the diciplines-psychological, physical, and spiritual-and puts it together in a well organized program. Brooke doesn't just focus on diet, exercise, or emotional eating issues, but rather creates a integrated system, which can be applied to many life challenges. If you have finally come to realize that conquering a weight problem is not a simple or easy task, then this book will give you a concrete method to get your weight under control.

This program works. I know. If you use the tools you see a difference in all areas of your life. This has made a positive difference in many areas of my life. The work is hard, you will not regret "trying this on" If you ever wondered how everything in your life is connected to what you think and do this book will answer the questions in ways you never dreamed. This book is the cheapest way I know to access what you want and to know what it is you want. Do the work, your life will change for the better.

I have first hand experience with Brooke's program, having been her client for 4 months last year and having read the book. Brooke is more than a coach; she is an amazing, rockin', healing, intuitive wonder. She has her finger on the pulse of where its at with weight loss; where we have socially evolved to and if you do what she says, you will succeed, no ifs ands or buts. She will support you every step of the way. I was so pleased to read her book and see how she was able to really capture the program so precisely in the book. Its a wonderful tool, full of her bright energy and power, and it will serve its users well. The work is deep and simple and real. Brooke will take you to where you want to go! Good luck and blessings!

This book is available at Amazon.com