I would say that the most successful slimmers adopt a daily policy of feeling good for as much and as long as they can...along with facing the likely roadblocks inevitable along the way. Positive people with a sprinkling of negativity. The key is to acknowledge the negative aspects of your weight loss journey but to focus predominantly on the positive. And so it is with my company Slim Focus – to experience success you must concentrate singlemindedly on the benefits of where you want to go or how you want to be (in this case, slim). What's in it for you?

In order to lose weight, this is what you must do:

1. Absolutely believe you can
2. Absolutely admit that it won't all be plain sailing
3. Absolutely design a plan of attack and just get on with it.

And start off with some positive negative thinking (if you follow my drift):

1. All the affirmations in the world won't matter a jot until you face the fact that your eating behaviours, habits and choices must change if you are to change your body weight. Have you ever found yourself fork at the ready hovering over another cupcake whilst affirming yourself as a slim, vital person? You won't be the first one. So take a long, hard look at all your destructive patterns – and install new ones. Just like that.

2. If you've always hated exercise then you need a drastic rethink on how to incorporate lots more movement into your day. Because, no question, it has to be done. Just stating 'It will be different this time' changes nothing.

3. You are overweight because you eat more than your body requires. Not because of your genes, your metabolism, your job or because 'people like you' always struggle with weight issues. Face up to your excuses and ditch them.

4. This latest 'Ben and Jerry's diet' that everybody is raving about is not your answer. Never has been, never will be.

In order to move valiantly forward focusing on your positive vision you cannot take all your baggage with you. You must leave lots of it behind. Have several clutterbusting sessions until you feel less burdened by your old food and exercise habits.

So, before you succumb to yet another frenzy of positive thinking, remember that many times, the reason why we don't succeed is that we really don't believe that we can do it. This is the sort of negative thinking that we MUST change right at the outset.