I've been doing it on my own since March. Been treating it more like a lifestyle way of eating & not a diet. I stick pretty close to the items on the list, if I want more I try to cheat with my protein or veggie quantities.
For breakfast I like a little ketchup on my cheese sandwich. For lunch I get the Wendy's Apple Pecan salad & add the pecans & use their dressing. My average weight loss is 1 pound per week. Highest is 2.5 in a week, lowest was .5 lb & 1 week I gained a pound that came off the next week. I am buying the protein drinks from dietdirect.com & do 4 clear & 1 creamy per day. I am fine with this slow going as I feel more like it has led to making better choices rather than restricting myself. My mom on the other hand went to the center, took the supplements & she lost as much as 10 lbs in a week. I don't know about that because that is really not normal. AND she seems hungry a lot, even now she is on maintenance. But it can be done so good luck!!! Find what works for you! I didn't weigh myself for the 1st month but had a pair of capris that were too tight. I tried them on weekly & was amazed at how quickly I fit into them & the scale didn't move that much.