I think with diet the competing desires may be many: enjoyment and image, pleasure and seeing ourselves as disciplined, punishment and indulgence, and lots of others.

As you say when we know what we want then we have the stick to it attitude.

Seeing it as reframing is certainly another way of seeing and probably just as good (and better for you).

Thanks for you detailed and considered comment.

This an interesting post competing desires..hmmm!

I was thinking about this let’s pick out food.
I’ve always been health conscious in my life in mant parts of my life.
Personally I love to eat good food. I do know I can overeat.
I do exercise regularly and often I say laughingly oh that will be an extra hour to burn off but I know I don’t have an extra hour. As I have aged I have found I put it on easier and its harder to take off.
I require less to maintain where I need to be.
Yet this competing desire is part of life. I first think of it as a disciplinary behavior I think. When I am clear about what I want for myself I have a stick to it attitude. If I waiver from it I pay with an extra pound or two and have to get back on track soon. Or it will be a lot more than and pound or two. I have found ideally if the food is of great quality I feel more satisfied and eating less is not a problem. I never been a yoyo dieter, its more of a puller away from the table and/or adding alot more no thank you’s to well intentioned cooks.
I have used some diets to get me more alligned and focused from time to time. It can make you just more conscious and aware of what food you are bringing in to your body. I really see it more of reframing everyday behavior habits and a life style change. The competing desires are really helpful I think in your setting goals for yourself and actually meeting them. I never really thought of it with that particular term used. I think when you find pleasure in something its then about the moderation of that particular pleasure.