Six weeks down and only 46 more to go. That’s the plan anyhow. Take it slow and steady. In my younger days I might have expected to lose the weight much faster. But not now.

Sticking to a diet is not always easy, especially when you’ve made a very public commitment. But there are forces at work out there. So diabolical that the very investigation of these "forces" could be a plot for an "X-Files" episode.

Let’s examine the three most common "forces" that challenge dieters:

The first, (and every dieter will instantly recognize this), is the uncanny ways in which advertising agencies instantly know when you’ve decided to diet. They actually change ad schedules!

Once the diet starts … food ads replace all those advertising messages -- nothing but food ads. Tantalizing, aromatic, taste-tempting, diet-busting, special offers, and on and on. Pizza ads, fried chicken dinners, fast foods, pasta au incredible. … How do they know these things?

There is an effective solution however. People do it all the time, especially during commercials. … Turn the channel or turn it off! (I do both).

The second diet phenomenon is equally as recognized by any dieter who works … anywhere – "food days" at work.

Is it my imagination or does virtually any event more unusual than breathing create an occasion to host a food day at work, especially after you’ve started your diet.

Remember when seeing the first robin meant spring. Not any more, now it means … food day!

A new employee. Food day! Someone leaves to move to a new job … got to have a food day!

Don’t get me wrong, food days are great, but have you ever noticed what kind of food is brought to these things. In order of appearance they are:

• Desserts (sugar creations ideal for mornings).

• More desserts (sugar designed especially for lunchtime).

• Still more desserts (well … you know, one can never have too many at food day!).

• Sugar (disguised as an afternoon delight).

• Carbohydrates such as potato or pasta dishes.

• Really super-rich, high-octane sugar dessert (a cherished family recipe).

• Carbohydrates in the form of chips and dips.

• Meat.

• Carbohydrates in all remaining forms.

• More desserts (just because).

The third force at work against the dieter is the engaging co-worker, family member or friend who has suddenly had an epiphany … sharing.

It usually goes like this:

(I don’t want to use any names, so I’ll just make up a scenario)

An individual, say a well-known and long-established sports editor at a highly read newspaper in, let’s say, Sidney, Ohio, happens to walk by your office and says, "Hey, I’m going to go get some cookies. Can I bring you some?"

Then just as quickly, Ken (I mean "he") adds, "Oh, I forgot, you can’t have any can you?"

Or here’s another example:

Relaxing in the evening, someone, like for instance a 17-year-old son, says, "I feel like some ice cream. … Do you feel like some ice cream? Oh, sorry." And he has this grin, see.

I’m going to get even with him. I’m going to lose so much weight I will be able to wear HIS clothes.

Then there is someone like, oh, I don’t know … maybe a politician. Let’s say his first name is … ahh, let’s see … "Mike." And his last name begins with a "B" and rhymes with "ecker."

And let’s say that you are sitting at a Kiwanis meeting and he says, (pointing to his plate), "Well, it looks like you can’t have this and you can’t have this, you can have this, but you can’t have. … "