What makes us Fat?  We have been lead to believe that fat in food makes us fat and that simply is not true.  The only thing that can cause us to store fat is when insulin is high and our blood sugar is spiked.  The truth is the Atkins, Paleo, South Beach or any carbohydrate restrictive diets are and have always been right.  When we eat meals  with and snack on carbohydrates (bread, pasta, sugar, potatoes, corn, baked goods, some beans, rice, flour, high sugar fruits, wheat  and crackers) we are fat storing rather than fat burning.  My recommendation for eating while releasing weight is eating protein and fat (eggs, meat, fish, cheese, and nuts) and vegetables (lettuce, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, celery) and that’s it.  When you cheat you throw yourself back into the sugar addiction cycle.  If you can stick to carbohydrate restriction for 2-3 weeks you can actually stop the cravings.  The minute you think, “Oh I can have just this one cookie,” you have now started a cycle that is almost impossible to stop (SO DON’T CHEAT, it’s really not worth it).  Once you have broken the cycle of sugar addiction for a few weeks some people can start adding a few low carbohydrate alternatives in like berries (strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries) and some alternative baking flours like coconut flour and almond flour.  I under no circumstances recommend using artificial sweeteners like splenda.  Alternatively, stevia is great for making lemonade, sweet tea and cooking.  Occasionally I use sugar alcohols (erythritol and malitol) to bake with coconut flour to make a healthy low carb muffin or “breadsticks.”   Again I do not recommend using alternative flours or natural sweeteners until you have curbed your sugar addiction cycle because they can stimulate your brain to crave more sugar although not cause a blood sugar spike. 
Sugar Addiction: The Perpetual Cycle
        Lastly, and most importantly, please eat enough. There is no reason to starve yourself.   So what if you can’t have steak and potatoes, but you can have steak, a salad, and steamed veggies with butter (yes REAL butter is ok on this way of eating).   Eggs are a staple of my diet and not just for breakfast.  I made crustless quiches a few times a week.  Try to focus on all the wonderful stuff you can have.  Do you love chicken wings?  Well guess what… if you don’t have sugary sauce on them they are perfectly within this way of eating.  Stay away from anything that will spike your blood sugar and you’ll be seeing that weight melt away.  When you are ready add in exercise if you haven’t already.  Drink lots of water and make some lemonade with lemon juice, stevia to taste, and water if you get bored.  There are tons of recipes out there online… you can do this.   When you get to your goal weight, you can occasionally cheat but don’t make it a habit.  This is a lifestyle change and a way of eating that is healthy for a LIFETIME!