All About YOU: The "Why" of Weight Loss

You struggle to drop those unwanted pounds, but the weight returns like a bad sitcom you thought had bitten the dust. Time to take a new approach to weight loss.

If you could figure out why the weight keeps coming back, maybe it would be gone for good. So take the "why" test. Here's how.

"Why" Questions to Ask
To make sustainable changes and get off the weight on-again, off-again roller coaster, you need to know what's prompting you to abuse your body and engage in unhealthy eating habits. (Answer these questions to see if your eating habits are healthy.)

So start asking yourself "why" questions. Here's an example of how this might play out:

• Why do I want to lose weight? Because I'd have more confidence.
• Why do I want more confidence? Because I'm hoping to start a new relationship.
• Why do I want to start a new relationship? Because I'm feeling lonely.

Ah-Ha Moment
The questions stop when you can link the first question to the last answer. In the example above, you want to lose weight because you're lonely. And the likely cause of your weight gain is the very same thing. (Learn more about the psychology of overeating in the YOU: On a Diet Center.)

Feel satisfied all day by registering to use the YOU: On a Diet online meal planner.

YOU: On a Diet. Roizen, M. F., Oz, M. C., New York: Simon & Schuster, 2006.