I'll tell you what I'm doing... I'm trying to lose about 15 lbs this summer, to get down to about 125 lbs at 5'5. I have a lot of free time, so what the heck. Instead of looking for some special diet with lots of rules and restrictions, why not just eat properly and in moderation, and get lots of exercise? A diet can't last forever. If you really want to keep the weight OFF once you've lost it, you need to change your lifestyle. To lose weight, you need to reduce the number of calories you take in. While it's not necessary or good for your mental health to keep an exact tally of calories consumed each day, try to have at least some clue what you're putting in your mouth. For a woman, about 1500 cal/day is about right for weight loss. Here are some basic suggestions about eating right...
--Eat foods that contain lots of water to help you feel full... you may want to look at the Volumetrics book... for instance, eat grapes instead of raisins (more filling).
--Be really careful about drinking your calories. Skim milk is about the only exception here, but otherwise try to drink calorie-free things... water, diet soda, coffee. Whole fruit is better for you than juice, anyway.
--Don't cut out carbs, but switch to whole wheat types. This stuff actually tastes good, and it is more filling since it contains much more fiber than regular white products. There is whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, etc etc.
--Eating 5 small meals a day really can be helpful, if this is feasible for you. Each small meal should contain some type of protein (cheese, fish, chicken, nuts) plus some type of carb (fruit, veggie, rice, pasta, bread). When you eat protein with your carbs, it helps you feel full longer.
--Eat a ton of veggies, they're very filling and low-cal. Eat fruit, too, but don't go overboard.
--Eat "good" fats, like peanut butter, nuts, olives, olive oil, salmon. A handful of almonds or walnuts makes a healthy, filling snack (with protein!)
In addition to getting your eating habits in order, working out can be a huge help in losing weight. I highly recommend running... it seems to hit muscles that nothing else does. When I first started running, it was SO hard, even though I could easily go for 40 minutes on the elliptical machine. Lifting weights is also important for weight loss. You won't bulk up--it's VERY hard for a woman to do that--so don't even worry about that. You will look much more toned, and your metabolism will speed up. So basically what I'd recommend is about 30+ min of cardio, at least 4X a week, plus weightlifting, about every other day. You will notice changes in your body much more quickly if you exercise AND eat less instead of just eating less. The more time you're willing to devote to exercise, the better results you'll see. I haven't found a summer job yet, so I have time to work out twice a day (taking every fourth day off as a rest day). On an average day, I might ride a stationary bike for 30 minutes, stretch, and lift in the morning, then take an hour fast walk in the evening.
For a great way to keep track of your weight loss progress, and for an online food diary (if you decide to keep one), look at this free site:
www.nutridiary.com