It's a life long pursuit to find the right balance between food that provides the right fuel for my goals and indulgences.
I was obese my entire adult life. Until I looked at my law school graduation pictures (second career) in 2007 and realized how unhappy I was with my lifestyle. That June, I was ready and I started losing weight.
I did it the "traditional" way - healthy eating, logging food, cardio exercise and strength training- with the help and enouragement of a great personal trainer. I was fortunate that when I started, the only other obligation I had was to study for the bar exam. My weight loss took 13 months to lose the 100+ lbs. I kept off 100+ pounds for 2+ years...and then the weight crept up a little. I've still maintained a 95 lb loss, but I am now trying to lose about 30 more to get to a more healthy weight.
Healthy eating means a lot of things to different people. There's a lot of "programs" out there. If you are looking to lose weight, I would encourage you to find a program that encourages the consumption of a lot of fruits, veggies, good fats and lean protein. If a program doesn't work for you, keep looking. Only you knows how certain foods make you feel. It should be a program you can follow for life and one that supports your goals.
