I've tried all kinds of diets even to the point of going on the Zone diet where it was bascially all proteins and veggies and no carbs or hardly any carbs. I lost weight but felt deprived and hungry. Headaches, too.
What has worked for me was to replace my carbs with healthier choices. For example, I gave up on white carbs such as white bread, white rice, white pasta, processed baked goods and the like. I replaced those carbs with GrapeNuts, cream of wheat, oatmeal, dark rye or whole grain bread, yes on potatoes (but no on butter, sour cream, yes on nonfat sour cream, nonfat yogurt topping w/green onions or chives), and no on sweets, desserts, junk,chips, munchie-snacks, sodas etc. I drink a lot of water. Also, I made lentil soups and put some cooked brown rice in it and topped it with little cubes of tofu. Often times that was dinner, filling but I didn't gain weight on it; actually lost weight. I ate salads everyday either for lunch and/or dinner, fruit for snacks, soy milk or yogurt for inbetween meals, felt full but not stuffed and I lost weight! Within 2 - 3 weeks, I lost quite a bit of weight without feeling hungry all the time. Also, several days a week, I go vegetarian and on some days a little skinless chicken breast or fish. I cut out beef, deli-meats (ham, bacon, sausage), & pork. I really slimmed down to 118 lbs which is how I feel best for my 5' 6" height. I lost 30+ lbs post-baby fat this way.
