Getting your brat's worst: when you're tempted to throw a tantrum.(eye-opening discoveries on health and fitness)

"Why am I always on a diet?" "Why do I repeat the same destructive patterns, especially when it comes to food?" "Why do I gain l0 pounds, work hard to lose them, vow to never gain them again, and then, sure enough, find myself back where I started?" Sound familiar? These are the most common questions I'm asked on my Web site at www.marilu.com.

We know how we "should" be living: exercise, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, avoid health robbers such as sugar, meats, alcohol and caffeine, and blah, blah, blah ...

Yo-oh Mari

But that's easier said than done. Most of us start out with a positive attitude and a plan to do our best. But as the day progresses, we're tempted and stressed; and to cope with these challenges, we revert to childhood behaviors. But we can't blame an imaginary friend for our misbehavior. We need something stronger: our "inner brat"!

At weak moments in my day, a tiny voice echoes: "Yo-oh! Mari!" It's my inner brat calling to play, and I don't want to disappoint her.

Our inner brat waits to capitalize on our moments of weakness. And she (or he) can prey on our euphoric moments too. Inner brats want

what they want, when they want it--without any concern for the consequences. They use tricks to get it too. They've been know to say things like, "Go ahead and eat those cookies for breakfast; you'll eat oatmeal tomorrow." Or, "It's too crowded at the gym right now. You can work out later when it's empty."