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The Psychology of Weight Loss & Healthy Living
a free online wellness and weight loss guide

​Overeating, inactivity and the desire to quit are, at least in part, learned behaviors.  That is very good news because it means that these behaviors can be unlearned and replaced.  Starting today, we are going to embark on a thought- and behavior changing journey that will help us, step-by-step, change our thinking from unhealthy to healthy. 

Bookmark this page and come back to review the material at least once per week, in order, without rushing to learn or do everything at once.  It is important to stick with this 'baby-step" style of progress. While most of us would rather have a quick fix, our brains simply do not work that way. Mental reprogramming takes time and practice. Slow and lasting changes are better than passionate but temporary ones, so be patient with yourself as you purposefully acquire new information and establish a new way of thinking.

If you are going to add physical activity into the New You program, be sure to get clearance from your primary care physician.
​
If you are a social type who improves with other-accountability, you may want to start a group meet-up or office challenge where you and your friends can share success stories or engage in some friendly competition.

​
This information should not serve as a replacement for therapy.  Please visit the Can Therapy Help Me page for more information if you think you may have an eating disorder or should require individualized help.
​
The Training Guide is outlined below.  You can print these and create your own LifeStyle Wellbeing Journal / Progress Record.

Preliminary: Baseline Evaluation

Week One: Weight Loss Math 
Week Two: Just Add Water
Week Three: Benefits of Exercise
Week Four: Examining Excuses

Check up: Progress Evaluation
Don't forget to go back and review topics periodically! 

Week Five: Lifelong LifeStyle Mentality
Week Six: Strike a Posture Pose
Week Seven: Sawing Some Zs
Week Eight: Skipping Meals and Diet Pills

​Check up: Progress Evaluation
Repetition is crucial in long-term learning.  Review topics!

Week Nine: Move Those Motivation Muscles
​Week Ten: Of Caterpillars and Courage
​Week Eleven: BMR and Calories 
Week Twelve: Know the Lingo 

Check up: Progress Evaluation
Have you reviewed topics lately? You can even start over, if you like.

Week Thirteen: Overcoming Emotional Eating
Week Fourteen: Five Rules of Weight Loss Success
Week Fifteen: LifeStyle FAQs  
Week Sixteen: Associative Learning

Check up: Progress Evaluation
Wow!  Check your progress and review! 

Week Seventeen: Am I Over-Training?
Week Eighteen: The Exercise Hater's Guide to Exercise
Week Nineteen: Know Thyself- Uncovering the True You
​Week Twenty: Secrets the Pros Know

Check up: Progress Evaluation
Congratulations!! It's time to celebrate your success and share what you've learned with others! 

HELPING OTHERS: FREE How to Become a Weight Loss Facilitator
​
References used in developing this program.

Heal Play Love
Supporting children.
Strengthening families.

Family & Children's Counseling Services

California 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

TikTok: @healplaylove

Contact Us

800-430-4490

Monday–Friday
9 am–6 pm

After-hours and weekend appointments may be available by appointment.

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[email protected]

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Legal Notice

The persons depicted on this site are models. Photos do not represent or guarantee results.

Therapy services are offered online throughout California and are provided only in jurisdictions where clinicians are appropriately licensed and authorized to practice.

This site uses cookies. Your use of this site implies your agreement to the use of cookies. See the Privacy Policy for more information. California residents may also review the California Consumer Privacy Act information.

Professional Association

FCCS is directed by Melinda Haynes, MA, California LMFT-S #102308. Reunification & High-Conflict Family | Court Ordered Therapy in California.

Affiliated Resources

The National Supervised Visitation online training program is a subsidiary of FCCS and can be found at SupervisedVisitationTraining.com.

We are frequently recommended for complex family, reunification, and co-parenting cases in California.

Professional consulting for mental and behavioral health professionals is available at MelindaHaynes.com.

Burn the Ships, written by Melinda Haynes and published by Harbor & Quill, is available at Burn the Ships.

Additional training resources are copyrighted by Harbor & Quill Publishing and Melinda Haynes.

We are honored to help your family heal, play, and love.

© 2026 Family & Children's Counseling Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Heal Play Love
  • Home
    • Schedule a Therapy Appointment
    • Felicitaciones
    • Crisis Information
    • Good Faith Estimate
    • How You Can Help >
      • Donate >
        • Sponsor a Child, Parent or Family
        • Donate to the General Fund
    • Privacy Policy
    • California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
    • Consumer Privacy HIPAA
    • Mental Health Consumer Rights in California
    • Career Center >
      • Practicum Site - Healthcare Administrator
  • About
    • Contact
    • Meet Our Team >
      • Jade Downing Intern Coordinator
      • Tynisha Harris Therapist Trainee
      • Theron Page Therapist Trainee
      • Lina Nevarez Therapist Trainee
      • Daniel Alexander Therapist Trainee
      • Gina Horton Therapist Trainee
      • Shay Walker Therapist Trainee
      • Madison Gingold Therapist Trainee
      • Prayer Noyogiere Therapist Trainee
      • Ashley Postlewaite Therapist Trainee
      • Charlee Haller Therapist Trainee
      • Walter Recinos Therapist Trainee >
        • Walter Recinos Estudiante en prácticas de Trabajo Social Máster en cur
      • Vanessa Mendonca Therapist Trainee >
        • Vanessa Mendonca Terapeuta en formación
      • Indigo Morris Therapist Trainee
      • Deane Brannen-Jurgenson Therapist Trainee
      • Matthew Richmond Therapist Trainee
      • Sydney Walz Therapist Trainee
      • Kaylee Esparza Therapist Trainee
      • Erendira (Ella) Gutierrez Therapist Trainee >
        • Erendira (Ella) Gutierrez ​Terapeuta en formación
      • Nicole Marcle Therapist Trainee >
        • Nicole Marcle Terapeuta en formación
      • Evelyn Santana Duran Therapist Trainee >
        • Evelyn Santana Duran Terapeuta en formación
      • Morgan Zipperian Therapist Trainee
      • Anthony Flowers Therapist Trainee
      • Becca Raney Therapist Trainee
      • Melinda Haynes, MA, LMFT. Executive Director
    • Who We Are >
      • Our History
      • What’s the difference between an MFT (or LMFT), an LPC (or LPCC), and an LCSW?
      • What is a Trainee, Associate
      • Heal Play Love Arizona
    • What We Do >
      • How We CARE
    • Annual Reports
    • As Seen On
    • Trauma-Informed >
      • Trauma-Informed Rumor
    • Family Systems Focused
    • Mission Vision Philosophy
    • Values
    • Helpful Links >
      • Legal Resources in California
      • What’s Next?! A Teen Guide to Identity and Choices
      • Community Services >
        • Community Services- Nationwide
        • Community Services-California
      • Can Therapy Help Me?
      • Can Therapy Help My Child?
      • Helping Kids Feel Safe in a Scary World
      • Attachment Trauma Recovery >
        • Origins of Attachment Trauma
        • Signs of Attachment Trauma in Adults and Children
        • Therapy for Attachment Trauma
      • 504 Plans
      • Mental Health Apps
      • Help! My Kids Have Been Taken by CPS >
        • California CSD
      • Places to Go in California >
        • Places to Go in Butte County California
        • Places to Go in Shasta County California
        • Places to Go Suisun City, California
        • Places to Go in Fairfield, California
      • Recommended Reading >
        • Why Behavioral Health Providers Exit Public Contracts
      • Weight Management >
        • Why We Develop Bad Habits
        • Diets Don't Work
        • Mapping Out Success
        • Journaling
        • Making New Habits
        • Creating Staying Power
      • Life On Their Terms >
        • Is My Partner Abusive?
        • The Cycle of Violence
        • Dangers of Staying
        • Healing From an Abusive Relationship
      • What is a Treatment Plan?
      • Starving for Intimacy Settling for Sex
      • Of Caterpillars and Courage
      • Feeding Your Family on a Very Tight Budget
      • LifeStyle Wellbeing- Creating a New You
  • Therapy Services
    • Insurance / Fees >
      • Insurance Accepted >
        • PRIME Health Services
        • LA Care Health Plan
        • SAG Aftra Healthplan
        • aetna
        • Partnership Healthplan of California
        • Carelon
        • Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal
        • CalViva
        • Health Net
        • California Health and Wellness
        • Cigna
        • Magellan Medi-Cal
        • Community Health Plan of Imperial County
        • Molina
        • Molina Medi-Cal
        • Important Note About Insurance
      • Straight Medi-Cal
      • Switching Managed Care Plans
      • Superbills
      • Reduced Fee Therapy
    • Therapy or Counseling >
      • Areas Served
      • Family Therapy
      • Child Therapy
      • Couples Counseling
      • Teen Therapy
      • Co-Parenting Therapy
      • Foster /Kinship
      • Post-Adoption
      • Family Maintenance
      • EPIC Family
      • Family Preservation
      • Folletos en espanol
    • Court Ordered Therapy >
      • How Court Ordered Therapy Works
      • Court Involved Therapy
      • Terapia Involucrada con el Tribunal
      • Why Social Workers, Attorneys, and Courts Refer to Us
      • Common Questions
      • Reunification Therapy >
        • When Families Reconnect After Long Separation
      • Mental Health Diversion
      • Servicios de Tratamiento de Desvío de Salud Mental
    • Types of Therapy >
      • Online Therapy >
        • Online Therapy- Questions and Answers
      • Cognitive-Behavioral (CBT)
      • Play Therapy
      • Play Therapy for Adults
      • Parent-Child Therpay
      • Experiential Therapy
      • REBT
      • Mindfulness
  • Education
    • Individual Learning >
      • Parents and Caregivers
      • Educators
      • Therapists
      • Program Supervisors
      • Attorneys and Legal Professionals
      • Coaches
      • Students Trainees and Interns
      • General Public
    • HPLU YouTube
  • Practicum Program
    • Internship >
      • Common Practicum Site Questions