Wow, it's great to see so many trying a healthier life style. Congrates to all those who are eating heathier and losing weight. Everyone is different, and what works for some may not work for others. You have to do what works for you. With that said, here's my story.
I was approaching 300 lbs. in June 2003. I finally had enough of it and read Atkin's book cover to cover 3 times. Donna and I started a lean protein version of Atkins with tons of low carb vegetables. We became very proficient in making low carb baked goods using soy protein powders, vital wheat gluten, erythritol and sucralose. By January 2004 (7 months), I was down to 190 lbs. and Donna had gone from a size 18 to a size 5.
We maintained our weight for close to 10 years doing Atkin's maintenance, adding in whole grains, brown rice and moderately starchy vegetables.
The high use of soy products and vital wheat gluten finally took it's toll on me, and I developed multiple food allergies. I had to abandon Atkin's Maintenance in 2013 for a diet free of soy, gluten, corn, tree nuts, legumes and nightshades.
Overtime, the weight came back for both of us. Last summer we decided to go on a super clean low carb diet, while trying to avoid my allegiants. Now that we are both in our early 60's, we found the going extremely difficult and had disappointing results. Donna's friends kept telling her about Ketogenics, and after my usual intense research,in October we decided to give it a try. We're currently doing Clean Keto (grass fed/finished beef, pasture raised pork, chicken and eggs, wild caught Salmon and other healthy fish, grass fed dairy, organic olive, coconut and avocado oil, organic vegetables and berries, organic bone broths, etc.) We also added in Intermittent Fasting. I'm down over 50 lbs. with 10 lbs. to go. Donna is down 30 lbs. with a couple more to go.
David