Calorie counting at first seems very tedious but eventually you get a better idea of portion control and sizes so it really becomes 2nd nature.
I use an app on my iPhone called LoseIt! and it remembers all the foods I've eaten before so it's a quick click and I can also save whole recipes to go back to when I am making something. I can also add custom foods that aren't in the list like Kimchi. It also allows me to record my activity and progress. It also has a quick list of restaurants and supermarket foods when you need to make a fast decision.
Breakfast is mostly the same things so it's a no brainer. I always have expresso with skim milk. I either have cereal with skim milk, yogurt with wheat germ and fruit, egg beaters with cheese or onions/green peppers... It's a rotation of the same things. (Approx 300 calories)
Lunch is normally the biggest meal of my day (450-550 calories). I try to add high volume foods that are low cal like vegetables. I love large salads to start off my lunch so by the time I get to my protein/carb plate.. I'm feeling content and satisfied.
I have 1-2 snacks a day right before exercise normally around (100-150 calories each). Fruit, nuts, laughing cow cheese, dark chocolate square, whole grain crackers, vegetables, yogurt, popcorn
Dinner is around 250-300 calories. I try to go light on carbs for dinner when it comes to rice/pasta/bread. I focus on vegetables and protein.
I drink lots of water and green tea during the day.
I really think the first few weeks are the hardest but eventually it'll become easier because you are just rotating the same recipes.
You can have a cheeseburger
! Make it at home and the ingredients will be healthier and lower in calories/fat/salt! Serve it with a side of oven baked sweet potato fries.
I eat a lot more vegetables now than I ever did. I love broccoli, bean sprouts, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, eggplant, baby spinach, baby peas, corn...
Best of luck on your journey!
Edit: There are many online sites that people use to track their calories to or use for reference. Sparkpeople.com, fitday.com, dailyplate.com, calorieking.com. Make yourself a priority and realize that YOU are worth it. Nothing we can say can really make you stick with it though.
It's ultimately up to you to weigh the pros and cons of going on this journey. Not everyone is ready to make that full commitment. I know I yo-yo'ed and gave up for years before 10/2009 when I was fed up of being fat and did something about it. I knew I would hate myself years down the road when I could have been young and thin... and I choose to waste my youth feeling horrible and disgusted with myself. I wanted to get married.. I wanted healthy babies... I want beautiful pictures of me... I wanted my friends and family to be proud of me.. I wanted to PROVE I could do this and empower myself so I took control of my situation... I was DONE blaming everyone and making excuses for myself.