You posted here. That is a start.
I'd like to say go and talk to your doctor. Everyone always tells you that. But most people get stuck with a doctor that tells you to eat less, hands you a photocopied sheet of the food pyramid, and pushes you out the door. Very few people have a doctor like mine who is just as commited to my weight loss as I am. I am blessed in that sense. So, outside of making sure you are fit enough to diet/exercising and doing routine blood work, I'd say this is a waste.
I found, for me, lurking here was motivation. Seeing tickers with 25 pounds, 55 pounds, 79 pound, 144 pounds lost, all I could think of was WOW! HOW DID THEY DO THAT! Then I started stalking those that struck me as amazing, you know, to learn the tricks.
I found out that all diets are awesome and all diets are failures. What that means is, what works for person A will likely not work for person B and so on and so on. You need to know what your weaknesses are prior to going into a diet if you expect to last at it.
I am addicted to food. Counting calories would NEVER work for me, as I would "forget" to add that half a cupcake or would miscalulate to make it not look so bad. Intuitive eating is another one that would NEVER work for me. I'd eat even if I wasn't hungry. I needed something that addressed my addiction so I could break it. So, I am on that pre-packaged mumbo-jumbo since it is SUPER strict and the slightest opps sends me spiraling in the wrong direction. I'll tell ya, it is doing the trick for me. I find that I don't mindlessly eat anymore. I don't crave sweets anymore. I am never hungry. And something I just recently started...counting calories..has been teaching me what
luckymommy posted about. But had I done that first, I would have failed and given up way before now. I am more structured now...and structure works best for me. Some people need the freedom. I am not one of those.
As for exercise, think of something you enjoy. Seriously. If you enjoy swimming, make that your exercise. If you enjoy dancing, enroll in Zumba. If you enjoy watching TV...make that your exercise. There is a trick to that one though...sit with arm weights next to the couch and maybe a foot pedal on the floor and make sure you are moving throughout the entire show/movie. The trick to exercise is to find something you like. If you don't like it, you'll give it up. Most people don't like running. Those who you see running ACTUALLY enjoy it. That is how it is with most forms of exercise. I mean, could you imagine doing the same thing every day all the time and hating it?! Nah-that's not how exercise works.
You'll do it if you like it, you just need to find what you like.
For me, I like the burning sensation of HIIT. I know...I am insane.
(although, I must admit, I like it because a year ago, I couldn't even walk up my stairs.)