I've done just about every diet out there, as many people have, but I find that most of the higher protein diets work best for me. I never feel deprived and my cravings for sweets disappear. The only thing I don't like about it is a miss my fruit.

How about you guys? What has been your favorite diet where you've been the most satisfied and had the most success?

Calorie counting is the only way I've ever had any success.

Calorie counting for me too

Calorie counting + lower (but not low) carb/higher protein/higher fiber.

But it's not really a diet. I expect to count calories for the rest of my life.

The South Beach Diet and calorie counting. Can't say any diet could fall into a "favorites" category, but those seem the most reasonable for the long term. Now if I can only give myself a chance to see if that's true!

Calorie counting.

I lost almost 90 pounds calorie counting in 2006. Gained most of it back. Came back this fall and tried WW. It was not working for me, so I am back calorie counting with moderate carbs.

Good Luck!

Calorie counting and exercise has worked best for me.

The exchange program worked for me.

This is my first diet ever. I've been calorie counting and trying to eat well...complex carbs, lean protein, not a lot of fats, plenty of fiber, no processed sugar, more veg, some fruits, usually berries though I love bananas. Mainly keeping track of what I eat, portion sizes and LOTS of exercise. It works when I stay on plan, and even when I can't exercise much and I don't eat perfectly, I was able to maintain pretty much. This summer was just so hectic for us that i lost track, but I didn't gain even though I worried I would.

I like counting calories becuase I can choose what I eat. If I want to blow my cals on cookies for breakfast, I can. That said, it usually just isn't worth it...and I make better choices without feeling like I am on a no fun no food *DIET*

Barb

Calorie Counting works best for me and I've tried them all ( or so it seems )

Weight watchers now...calorie counting in the past...either way, recording my food seems to help.

For me the only thing that has worked so far has been a combination of calorie counting with moderate carbs.

carlyjordon2002 I consider my eating plan to be moderate on carbs (at least moderate for a carb junkie like me) and I tend to settle around 100 - 130 g of carbs a day give or take. On a really heavy carb day I might hit around 150 or so.

I lost 72 pounds on Jenny Craig in the early 90s. Although I gained all the weight back and then some, it wasn't until many years after I left the JC program and got a desk job instead of the retail jobs I'd previously worked; I was able to maintain it for nearly five years. The JC food was fairly tasty as frozen/packaged food goes; I did get a little bored with it after a few months, but I never suffered. The center offered more frills than I ever took advantage of--classes on maintenance, support group meetings, cooking lessons, and so forth. My counselor was awesome.

In fact, if I were to win the lottery, I'd probably head right back to Jenny, but barring that, there just aren't funds available for it. So calorie-counting I shall go!

Rather than continue to beat myself up about having to re-lose all that "post-Jenny" weight, I'm looking at it as a valuable learning experience. JC did teach me a lot about what works for me and what doesn't, so I'm glad to have that experience to call upon now that I'm trying a different road to Rome.

Calorie approximation and lots of cardio.

I'd say this is my most "successful" weight loss venture because in the past I was just too teenage-angsty to eat or I tried to eat as little as humanly possible.