Be honest

I think so many people are able to succeed on low-carb due to a lot of psychological factors, each of which is essential. For one thing, although it requires us to give up foods that we like and in many cases are physically addicted to, it also allows us to replace those with other foods that are also really delicious and filling - and many things that other diets (like low-fat plans) would make us give up, we can still eat! We never have to go hungry for a moment (as with low-calorie or portion-restriction plans). And, what I think is arguably the most important element: it allows us to see at least *some* results so quickly that we don't get discouraged and give up a few days or weeks in.

So I've become very skeptical of all the "other" diets out there - including the Jenny Craig, shopping-mall-location types of plans. I've seen so many people who have lost weight on those expensive diets, only to put it all back on and then some. I have one co-worker who will tell you that the only plan that has ever worked for her is Weight Watchers, she lost lots of weight on that one, and that's why she's going to use Weight Watchers again now that she's regained everything she lost a few years ago.

Huh?

To me, the fundamental flaw in every other form of "diet" is that you simply can't do it forever. It is either impractical, or too expensive, or costs your system nutrition that you can't live without on a prolonged basis, or deprives you of eating normal, good tasting foods to an impractical and unliveable degree. And, as the saying goes, even if you reach goal, once you start eating "normal" again ... there goes the weight loss. The only people I know who have lost a lot of weight and kept it off without low-carb, are those who have had surgery for weight loss.

Do you know anyone who has achieved and sustained considerable weight loss on plans that are not low-carb based? What do you think of other plans that are out there?

I think they're a gigantic waste of time and energy.