Diets do work, but you have to pick the right one for your situation. You need to understand why it works, and actually stick to it. If you have other sources of stress in your life that could knock you off your path, try to fix them! No aspect of your life is entirely unrelated to another.

I don't know if this will work for you, but here's my experience:

I started on the Atkins diet in 2009 and lost 45 lbs. I was taking my second semester of biochemistry at university at the time, and I discovered the work of Dr. Robert Lusting, and his now-famous "Sugar: The Bitter Truth" lecture at UCSF on YouTube. Then I brought back carbs but decided on principle to refuse to eat anything containing even trace amounts of fructose ever again. I read every label and vet every restaurant before I trust their food. I only eat once a day, and it is always dinner.

I have not had even a slice of birthday cake made with sugar! I was on a flight earlier this year, and they gave me a tonic water instead of a sparkling water. The taste of sugar was awful and I spit it out involuntarily.

I think my rule works because fructose is still by far the biggest problem with processed food. Fructose makes you hungrier than you should be because it messes with hormones that regulate appetite. Pot gives me the munchies while also robbing me of clarity, and alcohol is directly fattening, so I try my best to avoid those things as well.

I have never regained those 45 lbs after shedding them. I am now 42 years old.