protein is your friend, meat fish eggs cheese, nuts seeds veggie stry to avoid white stuff like pasta, white breads, potatos, just limit your portion sizes. But protein and fats like avocados and oil oil for salads and sauteeing should be staples. they help to keep your blood sugars low and feel full. you should be getting 100 grams of protein a day that is alot. Spread it thru out your day. Eads makes a good high protein drink that is satisfying. A good book to read is protein power. WEight watchers has many many success stories.
I can't seem to count things so I just tend to follow a low carb diet and not drink alcohol any more and the weight is coming off.
good luck exercising. I walk in the evenings with hubby around the neighbor hood.
bizi

Start slow with the exercises. You don't have to keep up with the people on the DVD, just do your best. Adapt it to yourself. And walk! Just walking can do wonders. Try to eat real food, not out of bags, boxes, or cans. If you find yourself snacking out of a bag - stop, put some in a bowl (a small bowl), and put the bag away.

Good luck, skywalker. May the force be with you!