I can totally understand how you feel, we've been there before! Sometimes you don't have to dive into a new eating plan, or make dramatic changes to your diet. Maybe instead of changing what you eat, you can look at how much you eat. Portion control is a problem for many of us, and helped us become overweight in the first place. If you can cut your portions by 10, 20 or 25%, you'll make a huge impact on your total calories consumed, and you'll notice the difference before long. Aim for a slow and steady weight loss.
Restaurants just plain serve too much food. Order your usual favorites, but ask them for a carryout container and put aside part for lunch tomorrow. If it's cheap fillers, like pasta, push aside what you shouldn't eat, and drown it in black pepper and salt, so you won't be tempted to eat it all. Share a plate with someone else. There are a lot of little tricks you can use so you still get to enjoy your favorite foods, but you just eat less of them.
Many people lose weight without ever going on a diet, but just by cutting back. And of course exercise works wonders, and is always the other half of any healthy program.
One of the reasons I never did well on a "diet" was because of my habits, lifestyle, and personal tastes. I'm very independent, and I like to do things my way. I've tried most of the diets, just so I will understand them, but have never found one that I wanted to stick to for the rest of my life. I don't munch on raw vegetables. Some people love that, but I don't. So I don't force myself to eat something i don't enjoy. Some people try very hard to eat non-fat versions of everything, to save a few calories. I usually prefer the real thing, but in smaller portions. Touch my carbs, and you'll lose a finger. Though I eat healthier overall, I don't believe in forbidden foods. I practice portion control. And I exercise.
I do try to fit more veggies into my diet, but once you experiment with them, then it becomes easier. I'm currently hooked on slow roasted grape tomatoes with tilapia fish (my own recipe). I love roasted green beans, well seasoned with worcestershire sauce, a little olive oil, kosher salt, and fresh cracked black pepper. Roast till shriveled, then clean your plate
I love salads, and like to use fresh baby spinach instead of lettuce. Add a chopped apple, some blue cheese, walnuts, and a good quality light balsamic vinaigrette, such as T.Marzetti. I make a spinach casserole, using chopped spinach, cottage cheese, parmesan, and eggs. It makes a great side dish, as well as an out-of-the-ordinary breakfast.
You can add fruit to your diet without sitting down to an apple or orange. I love to make smoothies, with berries and yogurt. Yum, your kids will fight you over them
I love sliced bananas in my cereal. I like chopped tropical fruits with a yogurt dressing.
I would really like to suggest that you don't give up, but just try to make small changes instead. Small steps can go a long way! A popular book, Change One, recommends making one small change every week. For example, try to eat a better breakfast. That's all you need to think about - just eat a healthier breakfast, no matter what else you eat the rest of the day. Do this every day for a week or two. Next, try to eat a healthier lunch, too.
I used to live restaurant food, and that's one of the reasons I became overweight. I lost weight on frozen diet dinners, because it was so much easier than cooking for one. But I love cooking now, and eat healthier than I ever have.
Please don't give up on yourself. It's ok to give up on traditional dieting, but you can still become healthier and happier by making small changes. In six months if you are still 40 lbs overweight, you'll probably feel worse than you do right now. Take small steps. Just don't give up on yourself
good luck!!