If you knew for sure that this was the best time in your life -- the time when you are the strongest, healthiest, had the most open heart to new ideas that you have ever had -- what would you do?

Would that assurance be enough to get you to start out today ready to eat less, enjoy it more and lose weight? If I could guarantee you would lose weight -- would you move your energy away from judging yourself and put it into making a plan BEFORE each time you eat?

I was watching a commercial for the weight loss drug Alli. What that drug does is make a person be conscious of what they are eating. If they eat the wrong things (too much fat) the person will suffer from severe stomach pains and diarrhea (think of it as built in mindfulness). One of the reasons this drug is successful is it creates pain for a person if they are not paying attention to what kinds of food they are eating.

The idea of mindfulness is a similar strategy -- getting you to create the habit of planning how full you want to feel after the meal. Not running on autopilot. Without the cost of the drug. Without the pain associated with indigestible fat making its way through your body.

If you could carry a card in your pocket or tie a band around your wrist to remind you of your weight loss goal, would that help you make different choices?

If you had someone who would weigh you and look over your food journal each week, would that create enough accountability for you?

If you have been unsuccessful losing weight so far -- don't keep doing the same things expecting different results. Try something new. Brainstorm. Get creative. What will help you remember to eat less while you are eating? What will slow you down enough to pay attention to what your body's telling you?

Note: Click on over to the Alli page and really listen to what the commercial at the top of their page is telling you. That spokeswoman is talking about changing her relationship with food. Changing her behaviors when she is eating. That is why people are successful losing weight and keeping it off. They change the behaviors that caused them to gain the weight in the first place.