If you go to any mall or large shopping area in western society today, you'll notice a striking difference than if you had gone to the same place twenty or thirty years ago. Today, many of us are overweight, or even clinically obese. If you've tried and failed to lose weight, and many of us have, then you know how frustrating it is. Believe it or not, there is a simple way to lose weight that doesn't require any willpower whatsoever.

There is one thing that many people overlook when trying a new diet or exercise plan. Almost everybody goes into it with the best intentions, and with a significant amount of willpower. However, I'm sure you are well aware that willpower alone isn't enough to sustain any diet or exercise plan. You need something else.

That something else is the cooperation of your subconscious mind. A positive reason exists for every single behavior you have. Most people don't realize that there are a lot of other benefits than just the pleasure of eating. The food may provide a feeling of emotional safety, comfort, and sometimes even self love.

So when you force yourself through sheer willpower to go on a diet, you are withholding all those secondary benefits that your subconscious thinks it can only through eating. Only through retraining your subconscious can you stand a chance of permanent, lasting weight loss. And the good news is that it is much easier than you think.

The subconscious is that powerful part of you that controls all your emotions, your desires, the beating of your heart and the breathing of your lungs. You will need to convince it that you really do want to slim down. The only way to do that is to do some self meditation, or some self hypnosis.

The first thing you'll need to do is create an ideal statement of your ideal body weight. A present tense statement that is positively stated. A positive statement in the present tense that is filled with positive emotions. For example:

I enjoy and appreciate my body that easily fits into a size 34 slacks, and is rarely hungry. I enjoy and appreciate healthy fresh food that supports my weight and lifestyle. I am completely content with my life and appreciate all aspects of it. My heart, lungs and organs are all healthy and functioning well.

Take the time to write something that sounds reasonable, and makes sense to you. When you say it, get into a relaxed position, either laying down or in a nice easy chair. Take a few deep breaths, and count yourself down from ten to one. With each number take a big deep breath, and on the inhale, say quietly to yourself, "I am..." and then on the exhale say, "relaxed."

During each breath, picture in your mind the numbers ten through one. Once you get down to one, quietly mention off a few body parts, like this: My arms are relaxed. My shoulders are relaxed, my chest is relaxed, etc., until you get down to your feet.

This shouldn't take any longer than five minutes or so. One you are sufficiently relaxed, quietly and slowly say the statement you've prepared ten or fifteen times. Take your time. Say it like you really mean it. Even if you are a thousand pounds overweight, speak in the present tense as if you already are at your ideal weight, and really feel the gratitude. The more gratitude and appreciation you can muster, the quicker this will work.

Obviously, it takes a while to burn off body fat, but if you keep up this simple process every day, you should start noticing some automatic changes in your eating habits. You should start losing weight without ever needing to resort to willpower to diet pills or anything like that.

When you combine the elements of a properly worded statement, deep relaxation (or self hypnosis), sufficient emotion, and daily repetition, your weight loss will be automatic.