Why not go onto a site like www.fitday.com or www.mydailyplate.com and track your calories for the day and see where you're at? I think it's always good to keep track of how many calories you're putting into your mouth, regardless of what "plan" you're on (except maybe weight watchers, since you count points instead).
I use a combination of counting calories (being aware of portion sizes, measuring, weighing), volumetrics (getting filled up on large portions of low calorie foods) and whole foods (avoiding processed foods, eating lots of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, low fat dairy, healthy complex carbohydrates).
The plans range from do-it-yourself to plans where you have lists of foods to choose from (like Weight Watchers) to plans where food gets delivered to you and all you have to do is heat and eat. It all depends on finding out what you're comfortable with. Do you like to cook or not? Do you have to cook for others? Can you afford a membership to the YMCA (which is a lot cheaper than eating fast food regularly!)?
Some people like to start by making a food journal--you just write down everything you eat every day for a week or more, including how much of each item, and see just what your intake is. Sometimes this reveals a lot. The idea isn't to restrict, it's just to list, so you know.
Once you see how that is going, you can look at what needs to be changed. Do you see pizza three times a week? Do you skip breakfast? Are you eating a lot of chips, chocolate, and so on in the evening? All those might show you a way to begin.
The basic idea is that you find a way to restrict your intake in a moderate way (not extreme!) so that your body has to burn some of the energy it's stored. And, by being more physically active, you increase your body's ability to burn fat.
South Beach Diet cuz it's free, don't have to calorie count, the meal plan is straight forward and it's working for me better than any other diet I've tried in the past.
Yesterday was my last day of week 10 on the beach and I've lost a total of 27lbs. to date.
Oh and I keep up with my nutrition and fitness on paper and I record it online at SparkPeople.
Calorie counting, and trying to eat clean as much as possible.
I also have sort of transitioned my mindset from weight loss to building strength and muscle. Well ... I'm trying to. I am working out using the New Rules of Lifting for Women book (there's also a version for guys just called the New Rules of Lifting), and I've found that when I stick to the workout routine there and eat clean with lots of protein, I *do* lose weight better than if I focus on "omg, I have to lose these pounds".
Again, easier said than done, when we've all been sort of brainwashed into the whole "gotta lose weight" thing.
The other thing is I've sort of eliminated the idea of "using a diet" or "going on a diet" from my mind. Because "starting a diet" implies that at some point you can STOP the diet, which just doesn't work. So I'm working on changing how I eat for life instead of dieting to lose weight.
I count calories. It's simple, FREE, and effective. I swore to myself the last time I spent 100's of Dollars on a weight loss program, that I would NEVER spend money to lose weight again.
Unlike many people losing weight, I prefer to call it a diet...were I come from the way a person, (or an animal) eats is called their "diet". I used to have a poor diet, now I have a healty diet. The junk food and weight loss industry have made "diet" a dirty word...LOL
I do Weight Watchers....the point system is kind of like calorie counting where it doesn't limit you to any certain food. I do stick to the healthier stuff that is outlined in the Core Plan though. It's something that I am happy living with
I use a combination of counting calories (being aware of portion sizes, measuring, weighing), volumetrics (getting filled up on large portions of low calorie foods) and whole foods (avoiding processed foods, eating lots of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, low fat dairy, healthy complex carbohydrates).
I use calorie counting too and try to eat whole foods. I like calorie counting because it seems like something that would work long term for me. If I really want chocolate or a drink, I can have it. I just have to work it into my calories for the day.
I also have PCOS so I try and get 100g of protein and keep my % carbs in the 30s.
What diet are you using??
i was just wondering what some of the diets that are being used by the members of 3FC....
, but apparently, it would only be available for the use of October only... 
