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> the only way is to burn more calories than you take in, cannot go wrong.

Sure, but you don't control how many calories you take in any more than you control how many calories you burn. That is, your brain's decisions to try to make you over-eat are no more under your control than your intestine's decisions to more or less thoroughly digest food.

This is the part that's always over-looked by those who believe CICO is the last word on dieting.

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> your brain's decisions to try to make you over-eat are no more under your control than your intestine's decisions to more or less thoroughly digest food

They literally are though. You can decide to eat less and then… eat less. CICO is the last word on dieting; but the words, sentences, and paragraphs that get you there are up for interpretation.

This only makes sense if you believe in a transcendent soul which controls the body but is unaffected by it. Otherwise, you must accept that your body influences your decisions.

Alcoholic brains desperately try to make them drink, but there are many alcoholics that continue to choose to not drink.

If an alcoholic can choose to not drink, I can choose to not eat all the Nutella.

Unless you’re diagnosed with pica, chances are that you can indeed control your urge to chow down.

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