When you hear a friend say she's lost 40 pounds, do any of these thoughts run through your mind?

"That's good for you, but that would never happen to me."

"Sure, I could lose weight too if I had someone to watch my kids while I exercised with a personal trainer."

"You're so lucky."

"If I had your genetics, I could be skinny too."

It doesn't take much effort to be sarcastic about losing weight. It's easier to laugh with your girlfriends than to wonder, Could that ever be me? Could I really lose weight and keep it off for good? What's the answer you usually hear in your mind? Nah...

When you think you can't do something, guess what happens? You've just made a self-fulfilling prophecy. Success on the scale doesn't begin in the kitchen. It begins in your mind. At a motivational conference, I saw best-selling author Jack Canfield (coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series) illustrate this in a fascinating way. He invited an audience member up to the stage. The volunteer was asked to raise his arms shoulder level, resisting the pressure as Canfield tried to push his arms down. He was asked to think about a positive statement like, "The audience loves me." With this in mind, Canfield could not push his arms down. Then he was asked to think of something negative. Maybe a situation he was dreading at work. This time when Canfield pushed his arms down, they fell easily, like limp spaghetti.

Try this experiment at home or with your friends. It actually works! It's amazing to see the relationship between your mind and your body. When your mind is positively engaged, your body is energized. On the other hand, when you're consumed with negative self talk, your body is literally weakened.

If you're serious about improving your health, you must first change your self talk into "I can" instead of "I can't." I can lose weight. I can exercise. I can eat healthy. I can take care of my body and change my appearance. Replace negative affirmations with positive ones that remind you of your potential. Once you believe you can do it, the battle is half over. Throw out the old tapes rattling around in your brain. The tapes that say, "This is how my life has always been. I will never look like that." It's time to reprogram your mind. You can achieve your diet and exercise goals, but you must first believe it's possible.

My three year old son doesn't think he can dress himself. "I can't put on my shirt." "I can't find the tag," he moans in the morning. But you know, once he believes he can do it, he'll be getting dressed all by himself. He has the ability. Now he just has to try and believe he can learn something new. The same is true with weight loss. You've got to believe you can do it and then get ready for amazing results!