For starters, congratulations on deciding to make a healthy change.

The biggest thing you can do is to simply COUNT your calories.

HERE is a tiny calorie book. I'll see if I can re-locate the one I use.

It's astonishing how easy it is to eat too many calories. Or drink them, cut out soda. It's a HUGE calorie sink. I switched to no-sodium flavored carbonated water. It AIN'T soda, but it's not too bad.

I'm with Pleater (to a degree), VEG VEG VEG.

Changing the focus of your meals from higher calorie processed startches (pasta/bread) and fats (meat/cheese) to vegetables is HUGE.

Last winter I'd finally gotten to the point where I just felt like **** all the time. I vowed to lose a set amount of weight and started both dieting, and COUNTING the actual calories I was eating (along with working out).

After 3 months I'd lost +20 lbs, from 235 down to 208. I've gained a tiny bit back (4lbs) but that takes into account NOT being able to work out all summer and raising my calorie intake to a more normal level (and two major holidays )

Suits that I haven't worn in 6-7 years fit again (including my tux) and the kilt I bought in March is on it's last hole (inner) and is nearly too big. [kilt related ]

It's when you're counting calories that you start making better choices, because you're working on 'a budget'. You can eat anything you like, as long as you moderate the portion size and are prepared to adjust the rest of your day accordingly. Knowing that if you eat the 800 bagel sandwich at breakfast you're going to have to eat tight the rest of the day, you can STILL eat the bagel. The flexibility of knowing is what's nice.

I also find that packaged foods are almost universally worse for you (more salt, more fat, more what-the-hell-is-that?) and less satisfying than cooking at home. I can make a HUGE Chinese dinner and come in okay calorie-wise, where I couldn't eat the same number of calories in a few packaged 'pizza pocket' type items without being hungry again later in the evening.

HERE is another book I just found, but the format isn't too hot.