--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reason diets and other how-to's don't…" description: "\"The reason diets and other how-to's don't work for most people is the same reason most how-to books and courses don't work for most people. It isn't th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/jeff-olson-10618_action_the-reason-diets-and-other-how-to-s-don_584953.jpg" --- # The reason diets and other how-to's don't work for most… ![“The reason diets and other how-to's don't work for most people is the same reason most how-to books and courses don't work for most people. It isn't that the actions are wrong. It's that people don't keep doing them.” quote by Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/jeff-olson-10618_action_the-reason-diets-and-other-how-to-s-don_584953.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/jeff-olson-10618_action_the-reason-diets-and-other-how-to-s-don_584953.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/jeff-olson-10618_action_the-reason-diets-and-other-how-to-s-don_584953.jpg) > “The reason diets and other how-to's don't work for most people is the same reason most how-to books and courses don't work for most people. It isn't that the actions are wrong. It's that people don't keep doing them.” [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Many self‑help programs fail because people cannot maintain the required habits over time. **In simple terms:** Consistency, success. Key Takeaway Focus on building sustainable habits. Themes habit consistency self‑help behavior change motivation Mood motivational practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - daily exercise - diet planning - skill learning - budget tracking Key Concepts psychology habit formation behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - What small habit can you start today? - How will you hold yourself accountable? A Different Perspective People often underestimate the effort needed for long‑term change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [Diets don't come into it. You need variety and to have a good source of greens, protein, and nutrition. It is about health rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darcey-bussell/diets-don-t-come-into-it-you-need-variety-and-to-have-a-good-source/) [Darcey Bussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darcey-bussell/) > [I don't do fad things or diets - they don't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gray/i-don-t-do-fad-things-or-diets-they-don-t-work/) [Linda Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gray/) > [Diets don't really work for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karrueche-tran/diets-don-t-really-work-for-me/) [Karrueche Tran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karrueche-tran/) > [I tell people diets don't work. And I don't care what they say. I have tried them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-tell-people-diets-don-t-work-and-i-don-t-care-what-they-say-i-have/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [You should not starve yourself with stupid diets, which I don't believe in anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-netrebko/you-should-not-starve-yourself-with-stupid-diets-which-i-don-t/) [Anna Netrebko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-netrebko/) > [The reason why books endure is because there are enough people who like them. It's the only reason why books last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-reason-why-books-endure-is-because-there-are-enough-people-who/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [Unless we provide consequences for activities and actions that are wrong, we are not going to get any truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-rohrabacher/unless-we-provide-consequences-for-activities-and-actions-that-are/) [Dana Rohrabacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-rohrabacher/) > [“Feelings are never wrong. Only actions can be wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-simpson/feelings-are-never-wrong-only-actions-can-be-wrong/) [David Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-simpson/) > [“The wrong man is not always wrong because of his wrong actions, often he is wrong because of no actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/the-wrong-man-is-not-always-wrong-because-of-his-wrong-actions-often/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [People are unhappy when they are on diets, because it's 'don't do this, don't do that, do this, do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-guiliano/people-are-unhappy-when-they-are-on-diets-because-it-s-don-t-do-this/) [Mireille Guiliano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-guiliano/) > [I'm from the Midwest, and guys like me don't go on diets. We don't do well on spinning classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/i-m-from-the-midwest-and-guys-like-me-don-t-go-on-diets-we-don-t-do/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [One day I was running around playing with my son Connor when afterwards I was sweating, tired and out of breath. I was embarrassed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/one-day-i-was-running-around-playing-with-my-son-connor-when/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [The human body has been designed to resist an infinite number of changes and attacks brought about by its environment. The secret of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-johnson/the-human-body-has-been-designed-to-resist-an-infinite-number-of/) Harry Johnson > [I don't think I've ever bench-pressed anything in my life. Until about two years ago I swam a mile almost every day. Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-antosca/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-bench-pressed-anything-in-my-life-until-about/) [Nick Antosca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-antosca/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) ## More by Jeff Olson > [Surround yourself with people of like mind and different talents and temperaments with the purpose of serving the goals of every member of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/surround-yourself-with-people-of-like-mind-and-different-talents-and/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [Each and every incomplete thing in your life or work exerts a draining force on you, sucking the energy of accomplishment and success out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/each-and-every-incomplete-thing-in-your-life-or-work-exerts-a/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [“Simple daily disciplines—little productive actions, repeated consistently over time—add up to the difference between failure and success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/simple-daily-disciplines-little-productive-actions-repeated/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [“Like a penny over time, reading ten pages a day would compound, just like that, and create inside you a ten-million-dollar bank of knowledge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/like-a-penny-over-time-reading-ten-pages-a-day-would-compound-just/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [The truth is, what you do matters. What you do today matters. What you do every day matters. Successful people just do the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/the-truth-is-what-you-do-matters-what-you-do-today-matters-what-you/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [“Every day, in every moment, you get to exercise choices that will determine whether or not you will become a great person, living a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/every-day-in-every-moment-you-get-to-exercise-choices-that-will/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [“Greatness is always in the moment of the decision”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/greatness-is-always-in-the-moment-of-the-decision/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [The next time someone says "This sounds great, but I just don't have the TIME..." Look them straight in the eye, smile warmly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/the-next-time-someone-says-this-sounds-great-but-i-just-don-t-have/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [“One last thing about past and future—and I have saved the best for last. You can’t change the past. You can change the future.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/one-last-thing-about-past-and-future-and-i-have-saved-the-best-for/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [I've always said if somebody wrote a book and they took their whole life to learn that knowledge in that book, why you won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/i-ve-always-said-if-somebody-wrote-a-book-and-they-took-their-whole/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [Successful people form habits that feed their success, instead of habits that feed their failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/successful-people-form-habits-that-feed-their-success-instead-of/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [You can gauge the limitations of a person's life by the size of the problems that get him or her down. You can measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/you-can-gauge-the-limitations-of-a-person-s-life-by-the-size-of-the/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [We only need to walk or bike ten percent of the time to make a significant change in society. That is just two days…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/we-only-need-to-walk-or-bike-ten-percent-of-the-time-to-make-a/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [“As I began examining my successes and failures, what I gradually realized was that the very same activities that had rescued me from failure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/as-i-began-examining-my-successes-and-failures-what-i-gradually/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) > [For things to change, you've got to change. For things to get better, you've got to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-olson/for-things-to-change-you-ve-got-to-change-for-things-to-get-better/) [Jeff Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) [Explore all 64 Jeff Olson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-olson/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The reason diets and other how-to's don't work for most people is the same reason most how-to books and courses don't work for most people. 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