The New York Times has a story today about how the major weight-loss programs don’t offer hard data about the effectiveness of their methods (Diet and Lose Weight? Scientists Say ‘Prove It!’.) This isn’t a big surprise, since what sells is the promise of weight loss, not necessarily the weight loss itself. That’s why people often bounce between diets.
The study, published in today’s issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, found that with the exception of Weight Watchers, no commercial program had published reliable data from randomized trials showing that people who participated weighed less a few months later than people who did not participate. And even in the Weight Watchers study, the researchers said, the results were modest, with a 5 percent weight loss after three to six months of dieting, much of it regained.
Does this mean the others don’t work? No, but it seems to me that you need to be more dedicated. Author Cory Doctorow is probably the geeky poster boy for Atkins, but he also approaches it as a way to “hack the body,” not just lose weight. (See Salon’s Hackers on Atkins.)
Two years ago I started Weight Watchers online, and successfully lost 30 pounds. It wasn’t a quick process, but it was grounded in a simple premise: diet and exercise works. I went from 205 to 175, and have been able to stay within 175-180 ever since (and that’s not being strict about the diet; just applying the lessons learned while actively dieting).
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Jeff Carlson | Never Enough Coffee Creations 
The New York Times hit the nail on the head when they said the promise of weight loss is what sells.I majored in physical education in college and I know quite a bit about this subject.I make a distinction between common sense and common misinformation.People generally think that the more they eat the more they will weigh.People also think that lifting weight will make them big and bulky.This is why many women are afraid of lifting weights.This is common misinformation that most people consider common sense.Strong muscles increase metabolism but strong muscles must be maintained by proper nutrition as well as exercise.Body builders’ main objective is to gain muscle mass and definition.Strength is not their primary goal.Body builders have to follow a very strict exercise program and a diet that no one could duplicate unless they made a concious effort to learn what they were eating and replicate it.Concern about one’s body image is usually the motivation to lose weight.Both men and women are preyed upon by their own insecuritites.Men usually think they have to look a certain way and women also think this.the media is fond of pointing out that their is no certain way someone is supposed to look.I strongly disagree.There is a certain way someone is supposed to look,but it is how that indivivual is supposed to look.One women might be gorgeus at 135 pounds while another lady might look better at a heavier or lighter weight.The same applies to men.Diet promoters and personal trainers and simply supplying a demand.they are simply giveing the people what they want.Personal trainers at most health clubs go to weekend seminars to get certified.Body builders are just hollywood musclemen.Weight lifters are stronger,fitter,lift heavier weights, and for more repitions.Many body builders are incredibly strong but can not hold a candle next to a real athlete.They might be a little fitter than your average couch potatoe but body building in reality is very hard on the body.To try to sum all of this up this is the viscious cycle most people find themselves in.They exercise but don’t eat.when they don’t eat they don’t have motivation to exercise.When they don’t exercise their metabolism slows down and they gain weight.Another myth is that you have to burn more calories than you take in.This is just absurd becomes you can not burn more calories than you take in.a car can not burn more gasoline than it takes in.You can not pour more water out of a glass than you pour in.
found your old post via Google….and want to add my 2 cents worth.
Your last paragraph is worth highlighting in that if people are looking to lose weight, they should plan to lose weight steadily and slowly. No point to lose 20 pounds in a week.
If you lose it fast, you’re more likely to gain it back quicker.
Gotta agree with turbulence diet pills and supplements work fast but the body gets used to them and they stop working. Like someone who never drinks coffee gets a rush while people who drink tons of coffee get no hyper feeling response.