How's Your Relationship -- With Food?

Don't use food as the focal point for social activity. When you want to get together with friends, suggest something other than a meal. For instance, instead of hosting a potluck dinner to get to know your neighbors better, propose a quick dinner and afterward a night of bowling. Replace lunch with the girls with a walk. Don't worry: You'll still be able to catch up on all the gossip, but without all those calories!

Do not give up your must-have favorites: Avoid deprivation by allowing yourself a personal food treat at least twice a week, if not daily. This strategy works well for Janice Hay, who says that eating her most-adored foods has actually helped her maintain her 65-pound loss. "There were certain foods I was just not willing to give up," she says. "Namely, cookies and brownies." So she sought out lower-calorie versions of these gooey treats and found them in Gnu bars and GoLean Kashi bars. "They're absolutely delicious," she asserts. "I've been eating them for years!"

Seek help. Changing your relationship with food is difficult to do on your own. Professional counseling is helpful, especially since there is usually something else going on to cause the overeating. Until you deal with underlying issues of why you overeat, you can't really conquer your weight issue.

Remember that the underlying issue for many overeaters is that they substitute food for a real-life relationship. Food can make you feel full, not empty, inside. Plus, it's comforting and relaxing. Breaking up with food takes a lot of effort-and most experts agree that therapy can be beneficial. That's because you must be prepared to do some mental work to change your relationship with food.