Sounds like me! I went on Atkins cause a friend was on it, dropped a bunch of weight.
I've been going to a healthy weight loss clinic since Jan, and even though my loss as been slow (I screwed up my metabolism by not eating, etc.), I've learned sooo much.
You need everything in your life. Lean protien, carbs (I use veggies and hardly anything from the breads/grains family), fats and sugars (natural, fruit, etc).
I think a big difference for me was cutting out the processed crap we're bombarded with. Also thinking creative with your swaps changes things.
Frozen fruit in the hand blender with a little honey (it's like sorbet) is amazing and hits the sweet tooth.
Even protien shakes can taste like a sinful treat Hello peanut butter cup and orange creamcicle! *drool*
Hang in there! GL!

Sounds like an all or nothing personality. It doesn't matter what plan you choose - if you continue with the same mentality, the same thing will happen. You are either on plan or off plan - you seem to have no 'in between'. All or nothing doesn't have to mean gorging or starving.

Sometimes, I ask myself - "is this food right now worth being overweight for? is this taste worth being overweight?"

And you might decide it is not...

Basically up the protein intake (it helps burn fat). Cut out processed foods. Cut down on carbs. I know everyone says this but fruits and veggies are the way to go, so eat more of them. Eat breakfast. I never was a breakfast person, but I am on day 5 of the 17dd and I eat 2 hard boiled egg whites and some sort of fruit everyday. Breakfast is essential in boosting that metabolism for ultimate fat burning. I'm not sure if any of these will help you. You seem to have a lot of food allergies but do not let them rule your life and sway you from losing weight. Also, try not to focus on the cosmetic reasons for losing weight. I know it is easier said than done. I have rheumatoid arthritis and a very large history of heart problems and diabetes. (Most of my family is heavy.) I am taking the weight off to get the pressure off my joints and to avoid health problems like my mother and grandmother and aunts have. I hope something I said can help you reach your goal. Remember we're all here for you.

Hey Serbrider,

I'm glad to see you back. I was wondering why you shouldn't be eating gluten? I have Celiac's disease where I'm "allergic" (that's just an easy way to say it) of gluten. In researching the heck out of it I found a lot of interesting things that gluten can do to people with Celiac's one of them is to cause weight and depression! That shocked me greatly. Another is it keeps the intestines from absorbing proper nutrients that we need to survive (for me that iron and vitamin D). I also learned it causes fatigue, sluggishness and PAIN. One little thing causes so much havoc...there are much much more things gluten can do to a Celiac's patient, but those few have been the bane of my existence.

I realize you don't like restriction...I can totally relate. I'm 40 and I'm still fighting the Man (whoever he happens to be at the moment). I'm glad that I'm an adult now because it's much easier to tell people no, but when I was your age I still had a mouth on me I've been wrestling with getting a job (other issue at hand) and I think that if I do I will have to reign in a lot of my 'tude and I don't like that idea. So I get restrictions and I agree at your age you have a lot of them. I try telling my daughter (with rules at school) that those rules are teaching you about life and how you will have to deal with rules for the rest of your life. Course smart chit comes back with "you don't have rules". Ha, maybe not to the eye, but they are there.

Anyway...sorry about the tangent I looked up the IF diet and at first I thought it sounded really hard and very restricted (the time window) but then I realized its a struggle for me some times to eat breakfast (but I do) and I always feel big before bed (late eater so that I can eat with DH). IF actually sounds nice, you have time to wake up and you have time to digest Can I make one suggestion, not a restriction If you are intolerant of gluten and cut it out for 2 full weeks (clean) I guarantee you will feel so much better. And if you still have symptoms of head aches or depression (not saying you have these things just using them as an example) you will know that those come from other factors. Gluten sensitivity is an amazing thing and just changing that things become amazingly clearer (another symptom...fogginess). I took gluten out for a month and dropped 10lbs just with that modification. AND you can do that with the IF. It takes tweeking but its so worth it.

I wish the best of luck. I wish I would have had internet and 3fc when I was your age...course I wish I would have known I had Celiac's at your age, maybe life would have been different. But you have so many tool at your disposal. Like...you don't need a gym to work out. You have your body. Walk for an hour at a brisk pace, come back to your room and do squats (instead of squat press machine) push up (uses all muscles and you body as weights...awesome exercise). The body is amazing (I look at it like a machine) treat it well and it will give you the best results. Easier said than done...I know Like I said I wish I would have had all this kind of info and support at your age...my weight would not be where it is today.

But before all that it starts with you. Again I wish you the best. You're young and have your whole life ahead of you...don't make worrying about your weight a forever thing. Do your best, not because you were told to, but because you Want to. Good luck