times when you will struggle and plan for them. You need to think about the times when your weight loss will plateau and have a plan for how to handle the evitable struggle that you’ll have and recognize having the desire to give up. If you can come to expect that this will happen, you won’t be so caught off-guard and willing to throw in the towel if it happens. I find it helpful to have my clients write out a story of how they think it will happen. You can try this tech- nique as well. Write the journey before it actually happens. Include all the ups and downs. Anticipate people complimenting you on your weight loss. Anticipate the first time you put on a size ten or the first time the scale reads 167 when it read 165 the day before. What will that feel like? How will you handle it? Anticipate feeling fearful and wanting to sabotage your success in favor of a belief system that didn’t work. See yourself facing a stressful situation in your life and wanting to give up on your dreams because you can’t handle it. See your future self, peaceful and supportive and knowing, as if she realizes each set- back is a perfect part of this process. I promise you will be challenged. You may get sick or injured. Your husband might leave you or a friend might die. How will you remain connected to your- QaXe MoD1 WDtD1e SaYYenfUon’t Let It SaYYen to MoD ! #17