January 8, 2009

"I found that the three phases help you prepare for long-term success because you get the time to get to know yourself, you get to assess your health, and once you're comfortable with that, you make a change. Instead of starting and changing everything at one time, it goes more slowly. It terms of progress, you don't simply do it overnight and expect things to become a habit. The Best Life plan is flexible, simple and helps you make real lifestyle changes instead of quick fixes that don't last."

Want to be a part of a community of people working towards similar goals who share tips and encouragement? Join Bob Greene’s The Best Life Diet today!

No matter how often or vividly we fantasize about certain things—like winning the lottery—chances are they just won't become a reality. But that doesn't mean that positive thinking is a waste of time. In fact, when it comes to losing weight, your mind can be an extremely powerful and effective tool. Kick off 2009 by harnessing your mental energy to boost your weight loss success.

Pick a positive role model.
If a colleague at work or a friend from your book club has a healthy behavior or lifestyle that you admire, try to use them as inspiration. Maybe they consistently schedule exercise into a hectic workday or switched from wine to water with dinner. Learn from that successful friend, family member or coworker by asking how they keep healthy and follow in their footsteps. Emulating a can-do person improves your own habits.

Nix negative talk.
Negative thoughts can be defeating, especially when they're along the lines of "I'm already overweight, so eating another slice of pizza won't matter." Or, "I only have 15 minutes, it won't make a difference whether or not I squeeze in a workout." These kinds of statements basically give you permission to veer from the healthy habits that will help you lose weight. When you start thinking, I can't or it's too hard, interrupt that thought and instead, give yourself an ego boost. Even saying something as simple as “I can do it!” to yourself after you pass on dessert, positive self-talk can keep your spirits up and your waist size down.

Start small
It might be unrealistic to run a marathon this year or to never eat chocolate again. But there are small, reachable goals that don't require drastic life changes that can help you stay motivated. Try making tiny, positive tweaks en route to your bigger goals—for example, increase your steps-per-day by 100 steps each week, add another vegetable serving to one or more of your meals each week, or try a few new strength-training moves during your next workout. Achieving these mini-goals will give you an uplifting boost that will help you stay the course.

The Power of Positive Thinking, and other weight-loss and fitness tips from Bob Greene, Oprah's trainer.

	For more expert advice on seasonal healthy food choices, join Bob Greene’s TheBestLife.com. You’ll get access to nutrition and fitness articles, fitness videos, personalized meal plans, and a whole lot of delicious, nutritious recipes.

Ingredients
1 cup 1% milk
1 cup water
1 tablespoon firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
2 Lipton green tea bags

Directions
1. In medium saucepan, bring milk and water just to a boil. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, ginger and allspice.
2. Reduce heat to low, add Lipton Green Tea Bags and simmer uncovered 3 minutes. Remove tea bags and strain.
3. Serve immediately. Garnish, if desired, with cinnamon sticks.

Be a big loser!
You can check in daily to the Challenge site for articles loaded with helpful advice on how to make these new healthy habits work for you, and to learn what your next set of objectives will be. Weight loss is hard enough; make it easier by using the tips and recipes on the Challenge Site.