[moron4hire]

The "calories in/out" line also ignores that the "calories out" part varies extremely. For example, my mother has two bum knees from a lifetime of sports activity that now prevent her from engaging in most strenuous activity, and an under-active thyroid. She's also post-menopausal, so her overall metabolism is super low. She literally cannot lose weight on anything more than 1500 calories per day.

"It's just a matter of willpower"--as one of my sibling commentors so thickly puts it--is theoretically true, it's just that a lot more willpower is required out of some people than others.

[dahart]

I agree, reducing it to "willpower" is roughly the same thing as reducing it to "calories in, calories out". Neither one actually helps you achieve it. And saying it's only "willpower" and nothing more is possibly more misleading, and more shaming than the caloric equation.

I found out personally that focusing on willpower doesn't work very well, thinking that way makes it easier to fail mentally. You're trying to focus everything you have on not eating food, and judging your strength by whether you succeed. It's like the psych test of trying not to think of a polar bear. (http://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/10/unwanted-thoughts.aspx) Trying not to think about something is harder than thinking about something, and doubly harder than the habits we don't think about. Focusing on willpower is setting up such a monumental task that almost nobody can achieve, and the very few people that do have mentally trained for it.

It does take me the right mental frame of mind to stick to a reduced calorie diet, but I don't consider it willpower, it's more of a way of thinking and arranging my life so that I don't need willpower. It's almost opposite of willpower. I think about what I should do and how I should feel, instead of what I shouldn't, and I form new habits so that I don't have to think about it all the time or use the power of my will to overcome my tendencies.

I'm not sure but I feel like women generally have it harder when it comes to calorie reduction. My wife has to eat under 1500 to lose weight as well, and she's active and doesn't have bum knees or thyroid problems. Either way, that stinks for you mom. Does she regret her previous sport life at all now, or does she have fond memories?

[dahart]

The above comment seems to be rubbing some people the wrong way. I'm honestly stumped as to which parts are disagreeable and I'd listen and appreciate any further feedback, especially if I was accidentally offensive. My one any only goal was to contribute positively to the discussion.