(...Granted, they shed pounds much faster than I do, so there's that. Also if I plateau I guess they can laugh at me.)

tl;dr, I'm not really on a diet. There's a lot of dishes out there in the world and I tended to concern myself mainly with the pasta-and-pizza sphere, and all I've really done is expand my repertoire. It helps that I love experimental baking, so trying out low-carb baking alternatives is actually fun for me. And I drink a shitload of water. When I've shifted my entire lifestyle into something healthier, it doesn't really matter if I want an ice cream once in awhile.    

Also shifting an entire lifestyle sounds like a big thing but it's really not. A more accurate phrasing would be 'stop ordering from pizza hut twice a week, keep a bottle of water next to you at all times, and eat something other than noodles every day'. I ate noodles almost every day. No joke.

I've got an oven, a blender, and various other kitchen contraptions, so I may as well make regular use of it. I honestly think I eat better than I do before. It's like 'ugh, so I'm not supposed to eat instant noodles three nights in a row, I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO COOK SOME PAN-SEARED SALMON WITH ZUCCHINI AU GRATIN OR MAYBE AN ANGUS STEAK WITH BALSAMIC REDUCTION AND GOAT'S CHEESE.' Both of which have about 15 minutes of active time, by the way.