What was the first thing you changed?

Stopped having 2 glasses of wine each night, logging everything in to see how many calories I'm eating, and also got a food scale. using measuring spoon and scale to eat "real" portions instead of eye balling the food.

Cut out grains, drastically reduced alcohol consumption.

I cut out soda, fast food and... Unfortunately pizza!

Changed the portions I eat. I leave 30 to 50% of the food on the plate at a restaurant....especially the starches and other carbs
If I do the serving, I cut it back substantially.

1. Cold Turkey on Sodas, sweet tea, and juice
2. Lowered Crabs to < 180 a day (little to no white carbs - bread, potato, rice...)
3. Tracking food on MFP

I've been loosing 1-2 lbs a week for last 3 months just doing that. Hope to add some consistent exercise next.

eating healthier

I changed my thinking and lost 100 pounds in 2 years.
The first thing I changed was my way of thinking. I threw the word "diet" right out the door! Why? Because I wasnt on a diet. A diet to me is something you do for awhile, you lose a few pounds and youre done with the diet. When a person has a bucket of weight we want to lose, you have to change the way you think. You cant think short term, you have to wrap your mind around the fact that you need to change not only the way you eat but your life also. Ex: If your an alcoholic that just got on the wagon you dont go sit in a bar where everyone is drinking but you. That is sure fire way to start drinking again. For us that need to lose pounds , the people we need to stay away from are those that eat out all the time, go to fast food places and so on. The more youre around that stuff at least until you get stronger in your mindset the faster I feel you will just be on a diet and not in it for the long haul.
I myself have 100+ pounds to lose, so I had to figure out what was most important in order to achieve this goal. Staying out of fast food resturants and buffets(that one bit me in the butt) was where I needed to start. Now Im not saying that you cant eat at those places but you really need to think about the menu before going and decide if its going to be a big juicey burger or a grilled chicken sandwich or a salad. And if you decide to go with the burger great go ahead ,just know that on that day you may gain a pound back that you lost last week. I know I love a juicey burger.
Back to what I was saying about the change of the way you think. I feel "diet " has a negative feel to it. Like its going to be torcher to lose any weight. But if you think Im going to change the way I eat. I feel it makes it feel as if it your decision to do this and youyr happy about that decision.
The second thing I changed was my lack of knowledge about label reading, calories vs. carbs, fiber and so on. I am diabetic, so I decided to educate myself and I did. I learned so much. AND I have lost weight. 100 pounds in 2 years.

One of the first things: Got a heart rate monitor and realized that I needed to do more jumping jacks and added moves to get my heart rate up during exercise routines because I was not getting in the zone even though I was doing the moves. I hope it's working. I think it is.

Stopped eating crap in bags, bowls, cans and freezer and fast food and started adding more fresh veggies, fruits, and making my own dinners. that is is the first step.

Started using Stevia in my coffee instead of sugar. Portion control (was never crazy over large, but over enough), Carb cut. - Almost never eat pastas or potatoes. Eat very little bread, and eat smaller portions of healthier non pre-packaged rice.

Portion sizes! Started weighing and measuring, but eating all the same things. Went from serving whole pound of pasta for family of 3, to half a pound, often with leftovers.

Still eating pretty much all the same things, because always had a pretty good diet, but now also following calorie restrictions. Finally losing weight!

Replaced Diet Pepsi with water which did not directly gain me any calories but improved my health dramatically.