I think that many of us have an interest in this topic and that a
discussion thread would be useful for 'accountabililty' posts as well as
tips and techniques, covering both diet and exercise as it pertains to
weight loss.
There are lots of different methods out there. I'm hopeful we can be
respectful of each other and not get into 'holy wars' about which way
is best. The way that is best is the way that lets each one of us lose
fat and keep it off. Of course civilized debate and disagreement is
fine, and keeping open minds may lead us to methods that work better
for us than the ones we have been using.
I just finished reading the book "The Obesity Code" by Dr. Jason Fung,
and it's without question the best thing I've ever read about weight
loss. I think it makes a strong case for there being other things at
play in weight regulation than simply "burn less calories than you
consume". There is a big difference in metabolic response (mainly
insulin release) between, say, consuming 100 calories of broccoli and
100 calories of Skittles. The book says that too many calories in is
the proximate cause of obesity but not the ultimate
cause, which has to do with insulin regulation. So, you can definitely
reduce weight by addressing the proximate cause (consume fewer calories)
but the reason so many people can't keep weight off that they lose is
because they are treating the proximate / apparent cause rather than
the underlying disorder.
The book is a little "scienc-y" at the beginning and may bore some
people but I found it fascinating because it sets the stage for what to
do by explaining why it needs to be done. It also is not itself a
diet, but a recommendation to change eating patterns (when/how you eat)
to get the most metabolic benefit you can. It can be paired with
various food plans.