Mostly, I've never done anything, just slowly gotten fatter. I did do something called the Rotation Diet years ago a few times, which seemed to sorta work, but i never stuck with it. Recently I've done dieting because I have to, and had several sources, including bsking, mention the Gary Taubes method with at least mild approval, so that's what I do, in simplest form. I greatly reduced concentrated sugars, which were never much of an issue anyway, and grains, which were an enormous problem. I don't worry much about fats, but these went down when the french fries, butter, and pizza went away. I eats more nuts and cheese, and more raw vegetables sort of in self-defense. I keep them lying around so that bread/rice/corn/donut/potatopuff cravings do not overwhelm me.
It seems to work some. His point about optimism, even false optimism, driving both diets and progress seems mostly true: if we assessed the odds correctly, no one would diet, start a business, get married, etc.
