I experimented with Slim Fast. I did the low carb thing, South Beach diet, they all worked to an extent. The weight came off. I went as low as 175. Looked great felt great, bought new clothes, started running again. Vowed I'd never go over 200 again.
Unfortunately my electronic scale became to malfunction late last year. I started to slack off and eat more & more but, according to the scale I wasn't putting back on much weight. I continued to exercise regularly and that was my saving grace. I went over 200 (200.4) on Xmas day. I amped up the exercise & started eating less. I realized after the scale said I was losing 5 lbs a day for two days in a row (and my clothes weren't getting any looser) something was wrong. I bought a new scale and made the mistake of stepping on it in the middle of the kitchen with the wife and daughter watching. 213! (shoes off).