IMHO, I think most people miss the boat on this one. When they think diet they think of depriving themselves of things for months or more than a year and then IF they make it that long without binging out for a month they binge when they meet goal and gain it all plus more back.
A diet is simply what you consume. You have had a diet since the day you were born and you will until the day you die. It's on the shelf with taxes, lol.
I haven't give up the use of my skillet, I just use it differently. I use unsalted butter, nonstick sprays, and I use it in conjunction with my Foreman grill. The FryDaddy, however, is history for me and I don't miss it - deep fried things actually upset my tummy something fierce now.
I have sugar in my coffee. It's my vice but over the past year I've learned to use less sugar and if I need more sweet I use a packet of splenda.
I have cake but not everyday. I have one piece and enjoy every bite.
I have M&M's but not everyday. I have found that Kettle Corn is a great sweet something to have daily if that's what I need at the time. I usually have it as my 9pm snack and it can be bought in the 100 calorie bags. I haven't found any difference in eating right before bed or not eating within 3 hours before bed.
I have veggies. I should have more but I don't like more so I don't have them. It's as simple as that.
I have fruit. I love fruit for breakfast with my coffee. I don't find it heavy on my tummy and that's a requirement for my breakfast.
Some things I like the low fat/fat free versions and some things I don't. You just have to find what works for you.
If I go over my caloric max one day I don't go under the next. I just keep going and try not to go over the next day or the one after that, etc. If I do, I just keep going.
The beauty of calorie counting is you can have your cake and lose weight too.
And the beauty of calorie counting is you can have just cake and lose weight as long as eat less calories than you burn. It's not ideal but you can.
I try to make at least one meal each day "ideal" for health. Usually it's dinner and then the whole family benefits. I've whittled out twinkie snacks to rare existance in the pantry and now the snacks are fruits, popcorn, etc. Honestly, the kids have complained very little.
My diet would still not fill the pyramid but I've lost and I feel soooooo much better by making small changes.
As for exercise, if you don't exercise now and you're just getting started I would recommend counting only for 6-8 weeks. Do the extras like taking the stairs or parking far from the door but I would get the hang of counting before I pushed myself into a weekly regimen of exercise. Yes, exercise it good and great and you will find it's eventually going to make the big difference but just count first, get your groove and THEN add something else.
That's me. My diet is not perfect and probably never will be but I'm okay with that. I try new things, I'm active, and I'm a looser.
I would never have gotten this far if I couldn't have kept a few vices.
Best of Luck!