The Psychology of Restriction

Biology is only half the story. The psychology of dieting also sabotages long-term success. All-or-nothing thinking turns a single cookie into a reason to abandon the entire plan.

Diet identity creates another trap. When "being on a diet" is temporary, the implicit plan is to eventually stop. And when you stop, you return to the habits that caused the original weight gain. The word diet literally means "a way of life" in Greek, not a temporary punishment.