[xetsilon]

The main problem is not tracking calories.

I am a month in right now on tracking every calorie I eat as close as possible in a spreadsheet.

It astounds me what I thought I could eat and think I am still in a calorie deficit. I would even say I had become completely delusional from diet misinformation.

All these gimmicks to cause yourself to restrict calories is so suboptimal to simply counting.

I think counting calories is unpopular though exactly because not counting calories allows for a level of self delusional. You can then mentally be in this super position of at the same time believing to be on a diet without actually restricting calories. Of course you don't lose any weight but you are on a "diet".