Weight Loss: What Works?

As long as I can remember, there have been programs for people looking to lose weight. Some of them boast of the ease at which dieters lose. Others aren't as easy to follow but supposedly produce great results.

At the beginning of the year, many people began plans that they coined "Operation Summertime Fine," "Getting Beach Body Ready," and so on. Some committed themselves to drinking smoothies, others followed detox diets that included meals. Some say they've lost weight without any exercise while others are in the gym consistently.

There's no doubt that diet and exercise both contribute to one's weight loss journey, but are there any methods that have proven to be more effective than others? If so, what are they? For me, I've learned that I lose more weight when I increase my water intake and eat dinner earlier. I still eat junk sometimes, but as long as it's not late, I don't gain weight. What works for me might not work for another and vice versa. So, what about you? How do you lose or maintain your weight, and are there any plans that you are completely against?