There's a reason people who post in /r/LoseIt (see: 300and30, who is currently closer to 300and60) and talk about "my weight loss journey" (that annoying fuck Barnacules Nerdgasm and his multiple declarations over the years that he's "done being fat, my weight loss journey begins NOW!") never go from ham to human --and people who go from ham to human never do the above.  As /u/GuamWhaleWatcher pointed out, it's statistically proven!  Dr. Peter Gollwitzer, a professor of psychology at New York University, studies how goals and plans affect cognition and behavior. In his research paper, "When Intentions Go Public," Gollwitzer describes how spilling the beans -- and the resulting response -- can change someone's actions. Everyone has what Gollwitzer terms an "identity goal" of some kind, whether it's to be a good mother or a better scientist. In the case of weight loss, that goal is to be a successful dieter. To reach an identity goal, you need indicators of your accomplishments. For a scientist it's published research papers or a boss' recognition. For a dieter it could be pounds dropped or praise from friends/family when they see how great you look. Gollwitzer's studies found that when you tell people what you intend to do, and that intention is acknowledged, the recognition qualifies as an indicator of accomplishment. "The danger is that you feel that you have already reached the goal and because of that you don't have to act on it any more," Gollwitzer says.  Announcing intentions to lose weight and getting applause for it when you haven't done anything--or have done very little and still look like a dump truck--lights up the "task accomplished" part of your brain.  This makes it less likely you will actually do it.