If "diets" don't work, why not try out calorie counting? No food is forbidden, the work is all in the choices. Come join us in the calorie counters forum if you have questions!
Eat less and better, and exercise more. Best plan I know of, anyway. It's amazing how something so simple can someitmes be so difficult, but it's worth the effort.
I'll tell you something that I don't see mentioned a lot. I'm with the eat better and exercise more plan myself. But I notice if I'm tired, I tend to want to skip exercise and eat poorly. So I'd add...get lots of rest. You'd be surprised how much just getting enough sleep can help a diet.