Open to suggestions!

Lots of reading from Dianne!

In addition to those great posts, baby steps are key. Don't try to change your entire life overnight or you'll likely end up frustrated and overwhelmed. Start out by simply logging everything you eat. Every single thing. Logging everything makes it easier to see where you can make simple changes that have a big impact.

If you don't own a food scale, buy one and use it daily for as much of your food as you can. You'll be very surprised at how small some food portions are, how large others are and how inaccurate food labels can be. Use cups and tablespoons for liquids, especially fats.

Don't "play" with the numbers, underestimate calories eaten or overestimate calories burned in exercise. You'd only be cheating yourself.

Start strength training as soon as possible. In my opinion it's more important than doing cardio because it is much easier to maintain the muscle you already have than to build new muscle later. When we lose weight it is a combination of water, fat and muscle. If you're maintaining your current muscle then more of your loss will be from fat! You'll also keep your metabolism a bit higher and you'll look much firmer when you reach your goal weight.

The measuring tape is a better tool than the bathroom scale for judging your progress. In addition to "Before" pictures, measure your chest, waist, hips, thighs and any other body part you want to track and start recording them in MFP now. When the scale isn't moving your body might still be shrinking especially if you're lifting weights.

Get yourself into the mindset that you're making a lifestyle change and its not something that you will eventually finish. Time-based goals for weight loss often lead to perceived "failure". Keep in mind that weight loss is not linear and you will lose pounds faster at the beginning than at the end.

Do strenght training to tone your muscles and to keep them. Cardio without strenght training will make you lose muscle and soften them. Hope this helps.