By Michelle Strong

Loosing weight can be a major challenge, involving motivation, dedication, hard work and commitment. Shedding pounds can be life altering, transforming a person physically and mentally. Before you begin a weight loss program, however, you may want to think about the following:

Why do you want to lose weight? Some people need to reduce how much they weigh to reduce their cholesterol, blood pressure, and susceptibility to diseases such as diabetes. Others want once again to fit into their jeans. In many cases, the two reasons may overlap. Identifying your motivation beforehand can help you succeed.

Is your weight goal a reasonable one? You may want to fit into that size 2 dress you have squirreled away in the back of your closet. But is that goal realistic? Setting an unreasonable target weight will only prove frustrating when your efforts fall short.

Are you prepared to change—really change—the way you eat? There may be certain foods—pasta, pizza, burgers, beer, donuts, milk shakes—that you may need to eat in moderation forever in order to maintain your post-diet weight. You may even need to jettison certain foods that trigger overeating.

Can you learn how to cook? Preparing foods at home may be one way to really control what you eat. If you don’t have good cooking equipment, invest in some. And make sure to buy some cookbooks that can help you put together healthy meals.

Do you have support systems in place? Nothing can sabotage a diet faster than a spouse, boyfriend, or a good friend who encourages you to go off your diet, “just for tonight.” Having to constantly dig in your heels and turn down food will be stressful and make losing weight difficult. Put those around you on notice that you are serious about sticking with the program.

Are you prepared to exercise? Yes, you can lose weight without exercising, but it will be more difficult and take longer. If you are serious about living in a healthier manner, you will need to modify your schedule to make time for exercise.

Are you prepared to be treated differently? Not everyone will necessarily be as proud of your accomplishments as you are; do not allow it to discourage you. Set a goal and stick to it. Loosing weight is a major accomplishment, so reward yourself for it and don’t be afraid to commend yourself for a job well done.

Can you avoid becoming obsessed with your diet? You need to walk a fine line between controlling your diet while not allowing your diet to control you. Becoming obsessed with what you put in your mouth and your progress will be counterproductive.

What are your expectations if you do lose the weight? Yes, you may feel better and look better. But weight loss does not guarantee happiness. This is an area where some become disillusioned because they believe that excess weight caused their misery. Weight loss does not resolve other lingering issues like those related to environment, friends, family, relationships, jobs, finance, etc. It might be a good idea to seek professional help to deal with those types of issues.

Michelle Strong worked as a social worker and a health and wellness coordinator for more than four years. She also wrote a monthly newsletter column pertaining to health and weight loss topics.