I agree with everything that Rosinante said (big surprise there, huh!?). I started with very small changes at first. I think the first thing I did was to stop going to the candy machine every afternoon, and instead eat a big juicy orange. I also cut out potato chips (and all chips) at that time. Then I started bringing my lunch to work 4 days a week (I had a standing lunch date on the 5th day). I think I did this for several weeks before I actually started counting calories and trying to be more mindful of that.
Some people find that they do best by diving in head-first with calorie counting, exercise, the whole thing. I did better with a gradual approach. I did start seeing small results almost immediately, and I started FEELING better very soon as well. So that encouraged me to keep going.
I traveled a lot early this spring and kind of lost my way, gaining 15 pounds. So I am back at the beginning.....watching what I eat during the day. No candy. Packing my lunch and snacks for work. Cutting way, way back on alcohol. Soon, here, it will be time for me to start counting calories on a daily basis. I'm already feeling mentally better, even though the scale is not moving....yet.