A frustrating pattern is familiar to almost anyone who has ever struggled to lose weight – taking pounds off isn’t all that hard, but over time, they seem to come right back on. The powerful biology of the body, not poor personal resolve, is to blame. The brain is programmed to keep your weight stable and when you aren’t taking in enough calories, it sends insistent chemical signals telling you to eat. No amount of determination can fully override that message. But there are alternatives, and strategies offered here can replace the futility of dieting with intuitive eating, based on mindfulness.