knb: I found it a little hard to separate your experience from your speculations there - could you clarify the meaning of "we experience" vs "I couldn't achieve a true CR diet if I tried". I suspect that you're speculating.

CR isn't a line you need to get over - more CRON (CR with Optimal Nutrition) is better: http://www.crsociety.org/files/images/cr-youth.gif

I don't CR as much as I'd like to, but I lost about 18% of my body weight from my set point (at which point my family instructed me not to look any freakishly thinner)… and it was only hard at first. Some of what makes it easier is habit, some is clearing the high GI cycle from your system (once I stopped eating high GI foods I fairly quickly stopped craving high GI foods), but I think most of it is simple life hacking:

• shop on a full stomach
• buy good snacks that are not very tasty (nuts, seeds, etc)
• don't leave any food in plain view in your house or workplace
• if someone gives/leaves bad food in your house, throw it in the bin as soon as you can
• plan your meals in advance and shop only for what you've planned to eat
• and etc. - every time you see a temptation you have to spend mental energy to overcome it, so remove them