Comment by KPGv2

There's also the often-overlooked fixed willpower issue. Research has shown people have a sort of "willpower reservoir" from which they'd raw in order to achieve tasks, and if your life takes a lot of it, that leaves less for calorie restriction.

Having been successful with caloric restriction and quite aware of what's going on with me psychologically (thanks, CBT!), I see it happen to myself. I'm a stay at home parent of three young children, and during the school year, I carry less fat than during summer break, which is the opposite of childless people (they get the beach body and the hibernation body).

I can feel the intense pull on me to eat whatever disgusting food the whole 3 months they are at home, and it gets more intense as summer goes on, as I get worn down from the discipline of being a good parent to three U10s.

The second they're back in school, healthy eating is extremely easy for me. Salads with no dressing, small and lean portions of meat (I often eat lentils with homemade sauces and am completely vegan), etc. I have bloodwork done because of health issues, and the lab results bear this out, too.

It's a lot easier to drag yourself to the gym, track, climbing gym, etc. when you are't mentally exhausted from just keeping three kids alive and not killing each other and doing their summer reading and chores, etc.

Them kids' snacks start lookin' REALLY tasty by 3pm during the summer. I don't feel it at all during the school year.