I'm fortunate enough to have a rabid metabolism so I never had to go on a diet, but I do have a dear friend who is a very responsible MD (a nutritionist of course) and, while talking the other day, he explained to me that, when it comes to diet, it is very important not to overdo it.
One must not try to lose more than 1kg (2.2pounds) a month because your brain adapts to your weight (whatever that weight may be) and will fight to get you back to it because it intersprets drastic weightloss as a negative condition, so 2.2pounds a month seems to be the acceptable loss for your brain to go along with it.
Another thing that he mentioned was that way too many people go the do-it-yourself way and that's not a good thing. Spend a couple of bucks and consult with a nutritionist (an MD of course). I also have a dearest friend who is a on a wheelchair and she has done this and had some very good results with the help of a good nutritionist: weight down, energy levels up, overall parameters in the norm.
Other than that, being an Italian I would point you in the direction of the Mediterranean diet which is widely acknowledged as the most balanced and more satisfying of diets.
Good luck with it!
