The following is an excerpt from Fit from Within by Victoria Moran. Contemporary Books, 2002. Used with permission.

Lose weight for the last time -- not just another time! These 10 tips can help you build a healthier relationship with food and your body.

1. Accept yourself today

2. Walk more

3. Write what you eat and keep on writing

4. Get up, get dressed, get going

5. Make peace with your past and other people

6. Alter your definition of success

7. Get a support system

8. Deal with your stress

9. Develop your mind and your talents

10. Listen to your body

1. Accept yourself today

Accepting who you are, body and soul, does not guarantee that you will lose weight. It does, however, put you in the ideal position for losing weight -- not just one more time, but for the last time. If you don't accept yourself, you won't live fully, and if you don't live fully, you'll need to get full some other way.

Acceptance is not rationalizing overeating as okay. Nothing that is diminishing your life belongs in your life, whether that's an abusive boss, an untreated illness, or a peculiar affinity for layer cake and leftovers. Your behavior around food is a -- you pick the word -- habit, weakness, sickness, raw deal. Whatever you call it, it's something in which you participate; it's not who you are. Deal with the problem, but accept yourself.