Calorie watching helps weight loss maintenance more than exercise

Most of us have been there: we've struggled to lose weight using all the power we have only to gain some (or all) of it back later. While some goals for weight loss are temporary and some are permanent, how is it that some keep weight off after losing i and others don't?

I've covered this subject before here at That's Fit, but I'm still a believer in permanent nutritional change as a way to not only lose weight, but as a way to keep it off. We're not talking about "being on a diet," but looking at a different way about food in general and how much (and how often) to consume it.

Later on is when a good routine of physical exercise is a great idea, but initially, it's changing the entire mindset of food consumption that is key for keeping that weight off. Has it been successful for you, and did you find it more of a mental challenge or a physical one?