I'm a biotech researcher in the Boston area happy to do my own research into the science of dieting. I've also dieted successfully in the past. Between these two things, trust me when I say: there is no diet that works for everyone.

For me it looks like it's about managing my carbs: reduced carb, especially at the start of the day: meat, eggs, maybe unsweetened yogurt for breakfast. All the carbs from veggies and not breadstuff. Small goals, couple pounds at a time.

I wish I could be vegetarian, I wish I could be vegan. That's how this started. When I registered my husband and I had signed up for Boston Organics (fruit & veggie weekly delivery) and we were set on being vegan. I stopped keeping track, though, and the next thing I knew I'd not *lost* any weight, I'd *gained* five pounds.

And, honestly, it's always been that way for me with vegetarianism too - there's been a slow upward creep. The most (only?) successful diet I ever accomplished, several years ago, was a low carb diet - full of meat. For me, that's what I need to eat to be healthy. So I start my day with the most humane animal products I can find: grass-fed meat or cage-free eggs. Unsweetened, plain yogurt with a little salt is also a favorite.