Let's start off with our state of mind or mental attitude towards achieving a body that we are to be proud of through dieting and a fitness regime. You will find both have to be happily married to one another to help you achieve the goals as close as possible which you have methodically outlined in your mind, thus by having the right mental approach i. e. being in control of your brain, you can turbo charge your way to that perfect body you have desired for so long.

Keeping in mind if you require your strategy to succeed realistic goals have to be set in place in order that you will not be disappointed when the results are not in your favor. Your first goal is to set a "target weight loss per week", an achievable target would be 2 to 3 lbs per week, doesn't sound a lot but it is the "safer" and healthier way to do it. You may find that you only lose lb one week for example but this is to be expected, so by thinking positive and saying to yourself "that's lb less I am carrying around with me".

The next step is your diet and getting the proper amount of nutrients to sustain your body through this life changing experience. Feed your body with as much chemically free high quality fresh nutritional foods such as plenty fresh vegetables, fruit, salads, lean meat from cattle that have been fed on grass which can be purchased from the local butcher shop and plenty oily fish. Try bulking up the plate with vegetables and salads. Taking a supply of vitamins and minerals is also a good way of assuring you are getting the proper nutrient to fuel your body.

Once you have a planned your healthy eating regime then you have to go back to the beginning so as to remind yourself of the "mind games" your brain will play on you from the very beginning, for example you will tell your brain "I'm struggling to lose that weight", " I hate dieting" the list goes on and on. These are the words that are programmed into your subconscious mind, in turn you have to send a stronger massage back to counter act this negative message.

Over the next week as you think to yourself about your diet and exercise program, so as to be ready for

when the negative thoughts come and say I can't be bothered preparing the vegetables etc I'll just have one of those fast food meals it's easier! Stop right there, just answer yourself right back and say something positive, encouraging and something that makes you feel good about yourself such as I am going to develop that healthier slimmer body I set out to achieve.

Believe it or not but if you do this I mean speak to yourself! yes you have read correctly speak to yourself, it's okay we all do it from time to time it's just that we don't admit it and in doing this you will find it so much easier and the weight will disappear.

One of the most complicated things to do in getting started with a worthwhile project such as attaining a healthy body you will find there is always a tendency to set aside important things today and instead we prefer to do it some other day and when you think about it this is basically the nature of humans.

Sleep is another factor for your dieting and exercise program, as your nervous system needs sleep and in turn re-fuels your body. If you don't get enough sleep then you become sluggish, tired and you will find this also affects your ability to lose weight.

Never look back at your past failures for your dieting or exercise program if you have been there before, but seize this opportunity to achieve your goals and say I am going to finish what I have started and I will "not" fail this time.

When you are exercising you will find that this a good way of stimulating your mind so as to keep it honed and healthy. A good choice for an exercise for the mind and body is to practice yoga the reason being you meditate to give the feeling of serenity and peace to help your mind and the stretching exercises for your body.

Have you heard this saying "Smiling is my favorite exercise" well it's true; studies have shown that laughing is good for your health and soul. Here is a little fact for you: Laughter is good for your health-and now scientists know why. Researchers at the University of Maryland found that when 20 healthy volunteers smiled and guffawed while watching the comedy, Kingpin, their blood flow increased by 22 percent, about the same increase caused by aerobic exercise. But when volunteers watched tension-filled scenes from Saving Private Ryan, their blood flow decreased 35 percent.

"The researchers say that laughing apparently causes the endothelium, the tissue that lines blood vessels, to expand, which increases blood flow. Laughter may also improve arterial health by reducing mental stress, which constricts vessels and cuts blood flow. A healthy lifestyle-researcher Michael Miller tells New Scientist would include 30 minutes of exercise three times a week, and 15 minutes of hearty laughter each day".

To sum up then you need to keep your thoughts positive for your dieting and exercise regime and dispense with the negative as they will not help you achieve the desired results.

Now you now see how they say "it's all in the mind". Following these tips will be the first steps to help you in your quest to diet, exercise, lose weight and feel good within yourself.