By far the BIGGEST thing I've learned is that we need to change our beliefs & our interpretations of how/why we do things.* I think part of the problem is that virtually everything you're exposed to (informercials, articles, diet plans....etc) seem to imply that you can lose weight permanently without really making sacrafices or 'changing'.** This is total BS, at least in my experience.

Two of the VERY best things I have learned are

1.* There is a price to pay - either way.* There is a price to pay to lose weight (dieting, exercise, ...etc).
But there is also a price to pay for staying the same (decreased health, being unattractive, low enengy....etc). The reason a lot of us have trouble is that staying the same is comfortable, easy and familiar.* The price we pay is much worse that the price of losing weight, but since it is so safe, so comfortable, we never change.
I had to make a conscious choice to pay the price before I started losing weight consistently.

2. The other thing I learned to do is to ask myself "What do I really want?" at many times throughout the day.* This is sort of the same thing as knowing that there is a price to pay, but this stupid, little question* helps me to interrupt my bad habits.* When I faced with a situation where I would normally overeat, not exercise....etc.* I have learned to actually ask myself.* "What do you really want?"
I know what the answer is.* Since I know what I really want,* I really don't feel deprived or tempted by food and I am motivated to exercise.** Unless you can find some way to interrupt yourself when you feel tempted or deprived, it is much harder to make the changes permanent.* When I answer this question, everything is very black and white and I don't feel deprived or tempted in any way.