It is getting to be that time of year again. The New Year brings on New Year's Resolutions. I can almost hear the groans of despair as I type this. We have all heard that the number one New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight and to get into shape. However, this is always the New Year’s Resolution that gets broken the fastest, as well. I get it because I am in the very same boat. Sadly, I have lost the weight... Once in my twenties, again in my thirties, and again in my forties. This past October, I turned 50. Not only do I want to look better, but I want to feel better. I know that at this stage of my life, my health could become compromised if I don’t lose the weight. So I know that I need to do something different. I also know that what I have just shared resonates with you, too. So, I have decided that I am going to lose the weight and I want to take you along with me.

I want you all to be my "acountabilabuddies". I plan to make a new video weekly that chronicles my weight loss and can help others, too. I don’t just want to preach and teach at you. I want this to become a conversation. I promise that I will share both my ups and downs with this journey and I will be as real as I can be. I promise to be honest about gaining or losing pounds and pitfalls that I face along the way. This isn’t just going to be me cheering you on from the sidelines, I am going to be in the trenches with you. So how are we going to make it work this time?

The brain is the battlefield in the weight loss journey. One of the most used therapies available is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT for short. The idea behind CBT is to behave your way into doing something. I have decided that this is going to be the basis for losing and keeping off the weight this time. As a Counselor, I use CBT each day to help my clients behave their way to success and I believe that it can help with weight loss as well.

We are going to set realistic and specific goals that will set us up for success. I want to change my thinking to get out of my own way with this weight loss journey. We will spend a lot of time talking about emotional and impulsive eating and how to control it. Another topic is what the environment around us needs to look like to best help us succeed. I also plan to talk about plateaus, falling off the wagon, and nobody’s favorite- exercise. In addition to these topics, I want to hear back from you about what hurdles you face and then I will share how we can use CBT to beat them.

So what do you say? Don’t you think that it is time to cut the string on yo yo dieting and behave your way to a better, slimmer, and healthier you? I know that I am all in. Come and join me for this journey. My first video will come out just after the new year and is entitled, “Getting Real About Weight Loss.” See you there!