No fad diet here, just common sense. We haven't cut out any food group, but we have cut back on some of the most calorie-dense, nutrition-bereft fats and carbs. We've also cut back on serving sizes dramatically. I honestly believe that a big part of the obesity epidemic is that people have simply lost sight on what constitutes a serving of food. One thing we've done is pack away all of our 12-inch dinner plates, and replace them with 10-inch plates. The new rule in our house is that dinner has to fit on the plate (with vegetables taking up at least half of the real estate). No piling and no seconds. Following these few simple rules, I'm shocked at how quickly weight has begun falling off. I literally feel like I just unzipped a fat suit and stepped out of it. And my wife, a petite woman (though about 20 lbs overweight) who has tried every fad diet over the years without losing much at all, has dropped 11 pounds in the last month.
We've also started splitting meals at restaurants. Restaurants hate that, but it's our small way of rebelling against the humongous portions many of them serve.