"What do you think is the best diet?"

A "diet" doesn't work, in many cases. We think of diets as temporary and in reality, most people need to change how and what they eat.  But the following is the one "plan" that I know works.  The way I know is that I have lost 56 pounds.  It has taken a year, but I'll get to that shortly...

1. Use some type of food journal.  I have found that an online journal works best for me as I don't have to tote around a book to write what I ate.  At least at first, I had to be obsessive about journaling what I ate.  I needed a true picture of my calorie intake.  When I saw how many calories I took in, my jaw almost hit the floor.  I ate that much today???  Quite the eye opener.  With the online journal I was able to use an already compiled database to log my food, instead of paging through a book to find the answer, then write it down and add it up.  Online was easier for me, but you can do whichever way is easiest for you. 
2. Portion control.  Do you know what two ounces of spaghetti looks like on your plate? How about a half-cup of rice?  Three to four ounces of meat?  If you're judging servings/portions based on what you get in a restaurant, try again!  They give portions that are two or three times larger than what a "real" serving is.  You can go to http://www.rd.com/content/portion-control-tips-----download-your-free-guide/  for a good basic guide on what a serving really is. 
3. MOVE!  Add at least 4 days of some kind of aerobic movement.  If you can do 30 minutes right off the bat, then do it.  Otherwise, just start moving.  I started by going outside and walking 7 minutes in one direction, turning around and walking home. (Which took 8 minutes because I was slower going back!) I did this 5 to 6 days a week and gradually increased my time and distance.  Now I do about 30 minutes on the treadmill, 4 days a week, varying my speeds between 3.5 and 4.2 MPH.  Not Speedy Gonzales, but jogging turned out to hurt my knees, so I walk briskly.  I'm trying to add some weights as well, as muscle raises your metabolism and helps to burn fat even when you're not active. The toning aspect of weightlifting will also help you to feel better about how you look. Shedding inches as well as pounds is great for the old self-esteem! And before someone yells, "I don't want to look all bulky from weightlifting," please know that a woman would have to do serious lifting - like a bodybuilder program - to get anywhere close to bulky.  We're just not built to have that happen. 
4. Find some support.  Again, online has worked best for me. (I use www.my-calorie-counter.com )  I can go to the website at any time and write about what is bugging me instead of eating my way through it.  I've made some great cyber-friends and I know that they have been where I am.  My hubby is a wonderful guy, but he has never been fat and has no idea what this struggle is all about.  The other thing it does is it allows me to help someone else when I'm up but they're down.  For me, one of the best ways to help myself is to help others. ("I felt bad because I had no shoes, then I met a man who had no feet.") Plus, I feel more accountable about what I eat and getting my exercise done if I know that others are counting on me.  Again, that's my emotional need - your mileage will vary!  Other people like live support such as Weight Watchers or Overeaters Anonymous.  I have enough going on in my life that trying to schedule time to attend a meeting is tough. 
5. Do not deprive yourself.  I have never told myself that I cannot have something.  What I do is try to think about what is triggering me to crave/want a particular thing.  When I'm PMS, I want chocolate and simple/refined carbs.  So, when I see myself ready to go head first into a package of chocolate marshmallow pinwheel cookies, I stop and think about why. If it's PMS, I portion them out and have two; I scarf one down and savor the other.  I save the rest for another day and I build the two a day into my calories for that day.  If there's an emotional component to why I want a particular thing, I try to work that out first.  And sometimes, I just eat the darn thing that I'm craving and to heck with the calories!  That's why it has taken a year, but I have never once whined about "what I can't eat any more" or "I'm not allowed to have that."  I'm making better choices because I want to, not because I have to.  And over time, I've discovered that some of the "junk food" that I loved and craved doesn't taste quite right any more.  I read labels and try to avoid high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated fats. Doesn't always happen, but I try. And I've never used artificial sweeteners, so that's not an issue for me.   

The mental keys - beyond finding support - have included patience, perserverance (sp?), honesty and more patience!!! 

I can't speak for the Cheat To Lose diet as I've not read the book and the website charges $5 a week to belong.

Short-term diets really don't do you much good.

A diet, really, is the way in which you normally eat.

It is much more healthy to consciously monitor yourself and be aware of what you are eating.  It's fine to eat a piece of cake, but be aware that you are doing it and that you do not need to do it often.

Of course, a diet's best friend is exercise.  Doctors recommend that people walk at least 30 minutes daily at a minimum.

Our minds have developed and created a lot through the last two centuries, but physically we are still not much more evolved from our old hunting-gathering ancestors.  The human body NEEDS exercise to maintain health.

Sick building phenomena also suggests that you should do that walking outside.  Our slow physical evolution is still very much tied to a need to experience nature.  I feel much better running outside than on a treadmill in a gym or in my basement.