by Heidi Attir

Created on: October 07, 2008   Last Updated: October 14, 2008

Many dieters overlook the importance of prayer and meditation in their struggle to lose weight. They count calories, measure and weigh their foods, tally up their exercise and water for the day, and perhaps even say a silent "Please God, let me lose another pound" before stepping on the scale. But prayer can actually be the critical factor between "trying" to lose weight and actually doing it. This is because intentional, meditative prayer is more than simply a plea for divine assistance in our efforts. It is the opportunity to quiet ourselves, listen to God's responses to our prayers and to allow ourselves to truly accept the abundance and healing that is waiting for us. This allowing, or faith, is the true key to lasting change.

How often have we prayed for something, believing as we prayed that we probably wouldn't get what we prayed for? Our prayers were simply a desperate plea for help but in our hearts we didn't believe it would actually happen. This type of desperation actually causes us to block God from our hearts because it doesn't rest in faith. True communication with the Divine means that we have to open our hearts and receive His blessing. We have to believe that we are worthy, that we are loved unconditionally and that God wants us to be healthy and happy. Once we have internalized these beliefs, our prayers become a pathway to successful dieting.

Prayer that is based in faith has been proven over and over again to contribute to healing and health. While scientists can't explain how it works, most will agree that patients who put their trust in God, even while putting their health in the hands of doctors, have better results than those who do not. Studies have shown that dieters who have traditionally relied on Divine intervention as a contributing factor in their efforts have been more successful than those who have not. This is because prayer engages the power of the heart and mind, it contributes to self-love and acceptance and it allows us to release the fear of failure. Faith is not simply a wish or desire for something. It is a deep, spiritual knowing that what we desire will manifest.

Understanding the importance of faith, how can we learn to incorporate it into our weight loss efforts? The easiest way is by using a cycle of prayer, meditation and gratitude. Start by simply letting God know what you need. He knows your deepest desires and understands your struggle, but praying will help you focus on those desires and verbalize them. Then,

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