Do you know that your thoughts determine how you behave? That’s why learning to harness and control your thoughts will change your behavior.

For instance, you can change what, when, where, how often, and how much you eat, and you will lose weight. And it all starts with harnessing your thoughts. In other words, it's mind over matter.

One thing you can do is to become an "impartial observer" of yourself.

Every time you start to put something in your mouth say, "I am aware." For example:
 

• I'm aware that I'm eating the rest of my son's peanut butter sandwich.
 

• I'm aware that I'm going to the freezer for my third bowl of ice cream.
 

• I'm aware that I'm walking down the hall to buy a candy bar from the vending machine.

Becoming aware of your eating is one of the most important ways to stop overeating and get into control of your weight.

Another way to change your brain is to change the way the way you talk to yourself.
 

For example, if you tell yourself, "I can't lose weight,” you won’t lose weight."

You're putting yourself in a victim position. And you'll definitely feel helpless to do anything about your weight.

But if you say, “I won't lose weight,” you're in control. You're making the decision and at any point you can decide to start working out, watch your food intake, and lose weight.

Another change you can make is not to say, "I'm fat" or "I'm so overweight." Because if you do, you are defining yourself as a fat person.

Say instead, "I carry too much weight on my body." Now you've distanced yourself from your weight. You've put it out there and you can do something about it.

Another neuro-linguistic, mind-over-matter technique is to use picture words when you talk to yourself. Instead of saying, "I'm going to be careful at lunch today", say instead, "I'm going to order a salad with grilled chicken strips. I'll have the dressing on the side. And I'll order an espresso for my dessert".

By using picture words, you can see that lunch sitting there on the table.

Or instead of saying "I'm going to exercise today", say instead, "I'm going to put on my red tennis shoes, walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes, and listen to some rock n' roll". Now you've painted a picture in your head, you can see yourself on the treadmill listening to the radio.

And because of this picture, you're more likely to follow through and do it.

Mental pictures trigger electrochemical changes in your brain that turn your thoughts into action.

Visit Doris at www.doriswildhelmering.com, and check out her middle grade book as well as her parent and teacher guide.