The more I look into dieting, and at different people who need to / want to / try to diet, the more I see that the key ingredient in this whole thing is called Discipline or Willpower. Seriously, I don't know what's so hard about making a decision to diet, if you need to, and stick to it. But many people will start and drop it after a short time - or not even start at all. That's pathetic.

Discipline and Willpower is something important, but from personal experience I think its difficult for those who live in a house where there is always something fried, or something high in calories made at home. The time that i got to diet was when I was away for 2mth for work, I was on my own and did really well.

I think when at home the willpower wasn't enough, because I was not so desperate to diet, just wanted to cut the bad foods out and trim down slightly, which eventually happened.

I agree jyoti, a diet is no different from any other addiction. Temptation can break down the toughest of all willpower.

Yes, if the rest of the household insists on eating unhealthy foods, it can be hard to stick to your diet. However, I have known couples where one spouse would be glad to eat healthy and lose weight, as a couple, but the other says they have no discipline for it. They will complain about getting bigger yet won't do anything to fix that.

I don't think it is as cut and dry as that. Calling people pathetic because they can not hold on to a diet is not really fair either. Self-control is not something that everyone is able to master and it takes a few times for certain people to adapt to a new way of living, eating, doing things.

I agree with you on this point. It is hard to stay on a diet to lose weight if the house is filled with unhealthy foods. It is like an alcoholic trying to quit drinking but is constantly around alcoholic beverages. The temptation is strong and the person is weak. If a person is removed from the environment and given time to become stronger he or she will be in a position to resist the temption.