>>8002803food diary. it works as long as you do it. just write down what you eat and the calories, total up the calories a couple times a day and at the end of the day. weigh yourself once a week, always on the same day and around the same time.
it works. it's easy. you will find out how many calories/day to break even or to lose weight. if you stop doing it, it stops working.
I went from 215 to 170 (5 ft 11) and have stayed in shape for over two years.