In our society, FOOD = LOVE. We may deny it, especially the healthiest of us who eat to live rather than live to eat (can't we do both?), but we still link food and love together.

• Food provides comfort when we're sick or sad.

• We enjoy romantic meals with our partners.

• We reward our children with candy and treats for a job well done.

• We bring a welcoming platter of cookies to our new neighbor.

When we give from the heart, we often give food. Especially when it comes to our pets. They can't communicate in words how they feel about us, and though we try to tell them how we feel, we're never quite sure if they grasp the depth of our devotion. What's the sure-fire way to show our pets how we feel? Give them food! Those purrs and wagging tails say it all. Our pets love food as much as we do.

When does treat-giving and table scrap-sneaking get out of control? When our pets reach an unhealthy weight. This weighty problem can spiral out of control quickly, before we even notice.

Changing our feelings about food and love would be next to impossible. We don't want to deprive our pets of what they love, and we don't want to deprive ourselves of the affection we receive when we make our pets happy. Thankfully, Hill's® has formulated a program of food and treats that do not require us to deprive our furry friends: Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution.

If your pet is overweight and you don't want to curb the food affection (who does?), this is a viable solution to consider. For pets on this program, it's not as much about the quantity of food provided (thought there are feeding guidelines, of course), but it's about feeding your pet a food that will help your pet's metabolism move things in a lighter direction. You don't have to withhold food! Awesome!

Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution is a proven weight loss program:

• 88% of pets lost weight in two months at home

• clinically proven to safely provide 28% body fat loss in dogs in two months and 29% body fat loss in cats in two months

• nutrition that helps pets feel full and satisfied between meals

• clinically proven to avoid weight regain following a weight loss program

• 80% of pet owners would recommend Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution to friends with overweight pets

This program is available for both dogs and cats and requires veterinary approval. But Hill's® is making it easier for Well Minded readers to get started with their Tell-a-Friend Program. Just by filling out a form (link below), you'll receive a $25 Wellness Visit rebate AND a $25 rebate for Hill's® Prescription Diet® Metabolic Advanced Weight Solution food–a $50 value. And, please, tell a friend by sharing this post. Hill's® wants all of our readers and friends to benefit from this offer. Here's the link:

Hill's® Rebate and Coupon

So let's redefine love. Keep giving those treats, but make sure they are the right ones. Because EXTRAORDINARY NUTRITION = YOUR PET AT HIS VERY BEST. If that's not love, I don't know what is.