It's interesting to read about the different ways folks have shed excess weight. Thanks very much for the thread!
What has worked for me so far:
Leaving particular kinds of food behind, going on in life without them.
Not to say that someone else ought to do what I do, but not eating these has helped my health and to shed fat. I don't eat sugar, high glycemic foods, gluten, packaged foods, or oils high in polyunsaturated fats. I count grams of carbs, protein, fat, and calories. I eat three meals a day and don't eat after 4:30 or 5 P.M.
I drink at least my body weight in water in ounces each day.
I find that exercise before breakfast helps me the best.
The best reading material I've found on the web about losing weight and eating is
Eat Fat and Grow Slim by Dr. Richard MacKarness and the
PaNu blog by Dr. Kurt Harris.
I wish everyone much success and am sending you all good thoughts!