You’re tired of being fat and now you have decided that you will do what it takes to get back your old slender form.  You know that a good physique will not only boost your self-esteem but it will allow you to wear fashionable body conscious clothes again and look great.  Weight loss is a battle.  It is not something that can be accomplished by a mere hit-and-miss method.  And because you are in the middle of the so-called “battle of the bulge”, no need to do what all the great commanders do—create a plan of attack.

A good plan will help you in achieving your goals.  One way to get started is to set your goals and once you’ve done this, write them down on paper, finalize them, then print.  It is not the form that is important but the content so don’t spend too much time working on it.  Here are some things to keep in mind as you put your plan together:

1. Set your goal and period of time it will take.  You have to be realistic or else you’re just setting yourself up for failure
2. Make sure you are healthy to go on a diet.
3. Choose a diet and make sure it is not a fad or starvation diet.  Some diets you might want to consider include the Scarsdale diet, South Beach diet, Sonoma diet, Montignac diet, and the Mayo diet.  You can also create your own with some help from a nutritionist.
4. Make a chart.  Update it every Monday morning before breakfast. Write the following on your chart:

a) your weight and your girth measurements (breast, hips and waist) because it is more accurate to measure progress this way than by checking how much you weigh 
b) how much good liquids (water, natural juices) you have drunk 
c) what kind of physical fitness activity or sport you did and how long you did it 
d) if you cheated and how you did it (be honest!)

1. Make another chart.  On it, write down what you eat every day or how many calories if you create your own diet.
2. Find a picture of yourself from the time when you were slim and svelte.  Paste this picture on the cover of your plan and under it include a suggestive motto which will motivate you such as “You can do it.”

Find an accountability partner.  If you have someone to report your progress to or if there is someone who can sustain you when you feel like you couldn’t go on anymore, you are more likely to hang on until you achieve your goals.  Your accountability partner can be your spouse, a neighbor, or a relative.  He or she can encourage you as you work on your weight loss goals.  You can also look for a special websites which are frequented by support groups.