Losing weight is accomplished by overcoming mental as well as physical challenges. You are what you eat, but many of us eat what we are emotionally – happy, angry, lonely, sad – rather than what we are physically – just plain hungry.

So for the next few paragraphs, I’m here to act as your mentor, your buddy, and your “pop psychologist,” offering you the tricks, tips, keys and humor (!) that will help you keep your spirits soaring and your weight dropping!

When you need a little boost, just review them and then re-dedicate yourself to the task at hand.

ALL ROADS (AND A FEW DETOURS) LEAD TO ROME…AND WEIGHT-LOSS

Before you take the first step on your road to a new-and-improved you, remember that there are many different paths that will bring you to your goal. Every journey begins with a single step, and you won’t get ANYwhere if you don’t start to go SOMEwhere.

Remind yourself that whatever action you take – no matter how small – is worthy of applause, recognition and self-congratulation.

RECOGNIZING FRIENDS AND FOES – WORDS, ACTIONS, AND PEPOLE

The knowledge of the universe is limitless. There is valuable information to be found in the most unlikely places and from the most unlikely sources. You don’t have to follow a single way of thought blindly. In fact, it’s to your advantage to embrace everything that helps you feel good about yourself and motivates you to stay on track.

Reject nothing – except those thoughts, actions and people that are working against you, not for you. Reject negative self-talk, reject fear, and especially reject naysayers who tell you “You can’t.” Take it from me – YOU CAN!

STOP DIETING AND LOSE WEIGHT

You heard that right! The human body is not eager to cut calories and drop pounds. In fact, for some people, cutting calories lowers their metabolic rate,making it EVEN HARDER for them to lose.

Now,I’m not saying go out and eat like a beast; you’ll need to be sensible about how much you consume. But remember that the lifestyle that supports your body weight goal is activity, exercise and good mental health fueled by plenty of food…not sloth, deprivation and starvation!

BUILD MUSCLES TO KEEP THE FAT FIRES BURNING

Although they have prodigious weight of their own, muscles are a dieter’s best friend. The more muscle you have, the more fat you’ll burn.

And what remains when the smoke clears…after the fat burns? Why, by golly, it’s a slimmer, trimmer, healthier YOU!

THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS – FOOD!

If your idea of breakfast is a cup of black coffee and the morning paper, it’s no wonder that you may be having trouble with your weight-loss program (not to mention work, mental activities, and even sex!) When you skip morning chow, you throw off your body’s metabolism for the entire day and set yourself up for waves of hunger and cravings.

So EAT…and lose weight! No kidding -- it’s been shown that people who skip breakfast may burn up to 5% fewer calories than the folks who enjoy their morning meal.

SLOW BURN – 30-MINUTE MIRACLE

Bixby and his brother Baxter challenged the family to a weight-loss contest. Bix and Bax exercised by running at full speed for 10 minutes every morning, but the scale didn’t budge. Bix’s mom, Dixie, on the other hand, went out in the evening with her husband Dexter. Dix and Dex, enjoyed a more relaxed pace and walked for 45 minutes just 4-5 times each week, but they got slimmer and trimmer and turned into a couple of middle-aged hotties.

Dix and Dex know that the way to burn fat is to work out at low intensity for 30 minutes or more. You remember the old tortoise and the hare story, don’t you? “Slow and Steady Wins the (Diet) Race.”

HAPPY HOUR – BE HAPPIER (AND SLIMMER) WITHOUT IT

Been taking advantage of those 2-for-1 happy hour specials and noticing that you can’t get your weight to budge? It’s not the calories in alcohol that affect you. Alcohol inhibits the burning of fat and works against your best weight-loss efforts.

It’s fun to have a glass a wine, down a brew, or linger over cocktails. There are even a few health benefits that derive from drinking in moderation. But at least while you’re calorie-counting -- have a (diet) Coke and a smile, instead.