Interesting thread:
I've lost 45 pounds this last year and my lovely spouse is down 50. We re-learned now to eat. We did not go vegetarian, vegan, raw, or weird. We eat 5-6 small meals each day - 2 or 3 hours apart. Normally I have about 180 calories for each feeding and make sure they are balanced with fat/carb/protein - normally 10-15g of protein for each. I then have, usually dinner, a meal with 4-7 oz of lean protein and a large salad or plenty of steamed veg.
We do go "off the farm" now and then: Superbowl Sunday is an example, but not how you think. Rather than eat chips/dips/wings/beer/etc. we had a nice steak, veggie and salad, I had two glasses of a nice Cabernet, and we split a dessert. Yep, weight was up Monday but I'm now 4 pounds lower than last Friday.
We went on a cruise last December, ate pretty much at will, but were aware of each meal and drink. I went on the cruise 4 pounds under my self imposed max - came home 3 pounds "over". By the following Wednesday I was back under my "max".

Education, discipline, and the will to change are key. I could do vegetarian or raw or whatever but I choose not too. I am diabetic but my A1C has been in the non/never diabetic range for over 9 months.