While most of us recognize Dr. Phil for his relationship savvy; what's less well-known is that he has spent 30 years helping people slim down. His new book, based on not only his own practice but exhaustive medical, psychological and nutritional research, identifies seven keys to what he calls weight-loss freedom.

Diets fail, he says, because we rebel and we don't have a system in place to support us when we're not in the mood to stick to our plan. In the following excerpt, Dr. Phil explains step-by-step how to examine and challenge your habits of mind—and stop medicating yourself with food.

Rethink Weight Loss  
Regaining control of your feelings is not only the key to losing weight, but also to your overall well-being. These seven steps will show you how to do it!

• Step 1: Take Ownership of Your Reactions
• Step 2: Resolve Life's Problems
• Step 3: Decelerate Your Thinking
• Step 4: Challenge Your Thoughts
• Step 5: Gain Closure
• Step 6: Learn to Forgive
• Step 7: Cope Without Food