Most of you reading this have been on so many diets in the past, you could write best-sellers about your experiences! I understand as I have heard your stories about diets and failures through the years.

You are probably wondering if this time will be any different from your past efforts to lose weight. You may be thinking, “Can I really lose weight for life?”

When answering such a question, you need to weigh the pros and cons of embarking on such a journey. If you really desire in your heart to do this, God will empower you along the way. But you have to commit to the process. This means you have to be willing to make lifestyle changes.

Read through this list of questions and answer each question honestly:

• Do I have realistic expectations? Am I willing to lose weight steadily, slowly and sensibly? Am I willing to examine other areas of my life that may need to change in order to support weight loss?
• Will I change the focus of my efforts to health and lifestyle and not diet and weight?
• Am I willing to cut back on unhealthy eating habits and develop new ones?
• Am I willing to increase exercise and movement?
• Am I willing to resolve emotional issues related to food and eating?
• Will I monitor my progress and deal with health issues?
• Will I go deeper in my spiritual life, renewing my mind daily and allowing God to give me a heart of flesh for a heart of stone?
• Will I eat at regular times and give my body a chance to maximize its metabolism?
• Will I build community and support, both necessary for long term maintenance of gains?
• Will I develop a lifestyle of balance and moderation?
• Will I accept the grace of God and lose the shame and humiliation associated with weight loss efforts and past defeats?

If you can answer, “Yes” to these questions, you are ready to begin. If not, reassess why you answered, “No” and work on changing your attitude and surrendering more to God and His good plan for your life.