People who exercise intensely can experience physical exhaustion and a variety of health complaints. There are also special occasions: holidays, birthdays, an important celebration, or simply an irresistible temptation - a smell, look or association that is hard to resist. Breaking a resolution and eating a calorie-dense meal leads to feelings of guilt and negative thinking about oneself, but deviating from a rigid diet or schedule is becoming more common. All the more so when the efforts made may not yield spectacular results and the pounds are lost at a much slower rate than one would expect. When it becomes apparent that the chances of achieving the plan are diminishing, discouragement tends to set in and weight loss is abandoned altogether. Feelings of regret, failure and helplessness are left behind. In order to improve one's mood, overeating may be resumed and thus the circle is closed. The renewed weight gain continues until the moment of mobilisation and the resolve to "do something about yourself" occurs again.

Overly ambitious goals are not good for the long term. They cause a great mobilisation of energy at the beginning, but at a later stage depletion of resources and discouragement. This is as true for planning too much weight reduction as for overly restrictive dietary restrictions, as it is for too exhausting physical exercise. Treating obesity is akin to a long-distance run - it requires a well-considered strategy, spreading out your strength and adapting your pace to your own capabilities.

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