I'm the queen of backsliding.
Atkins is the only thing that works for me. Period. I'm very very carb sensitive, and when I've gone carb crazy for a time, I always come back to Atkins '72 induction type eating. Why? It is a very basic, easy to remember program and this time around (after 6 months of backsliding and a 13 lb. weight gain) I got back into ketosis in just 3 days, with zero cravings and a 4.5 lb water weight drop in 3 days. I had a headache for the first 2 days (carb withdrawal), but that was it. As long as I stay away from any and everything that is NOT on Atkins '72, things go swimmingly. I feel great, lots of energy, digestive system working perfectly, and by the end of 3 days my appetite is really muted and I'm eating less as well. AND...happily back on track. I get steady weight loss eating this way....I don't lose every day, I can pop back up here and there for no reason, but I always remember that the human body is 60-70% water and water levels/water retention varies. This can be affected by food, but it can also be affected by weather and who knows what else. As long as you are eating correctly, there is no worry. The most important thing of all is CONSISTENCY. CONSISTENCY. Did I mention how important CONSISTENCY is?
I'm sure you can lose weight with virtually any program out there. What I've learned is I like the Atkins advantage and how it kills off your hunger and cravings, and this fact makes sticking with this WOE so very much saner than other diets. I'm not thinking about food all the time. I don't ever feel that hungry.
One thing I will say is that what also works best for me is choosing my foods from a very limited group of foods. How I eat is very very boring, but when you want to lose weight, boring is good. A lot of your food cravings are in your head, so it's not only physiological. I don't spend time making a lot of fancy foods to approximate the way I used to eat....the way that made me gain weight, to be precise. That keeps my cravings alive. So I eat simply and I eat boring.
I have the most success when my meals are simple and predictable. My breakfast is always exactly the same: bacon and eggs, coffee w/cream. Mostly I'm not even hungry for lunch so I skip it. Dinner is a meat and a salad or veggie with butter. This makes shopping very simple as well. Everything is predictable and boring. And it works.