When just starting out, you shouldnt try to change everything. Work on one thing at a time.

Start with staying within your calorie goal. Once you have that figured out and are doing it easily enough, then start working on better eating habits. You'll find that when you make healthier choices in food decisions, you'll be able to eat more because they are going to be lower in calories than those "bad" items you've been having all along.

Now dont worry about taking out those "bad" or "Cheat" items entirely. If you dont allow yourself to have those things you love on occasion (not every day) and in moderation then real cheating becomes a problem.

My husband and I have a very small dish of ice cream a couple times a week, or may eat out at our favorite fast food every now and then, but we factor this all in and make sure not to go outside our calorie goal and we also make healthier choices when it comes to selecting off the menu. As a matter of fact we are going out for buffalo wings this weekend with hubby's best friend to celebrate birthdays. I may not have much for breakfast or lunch that day just so I can enjoy myself at dinner. However I wont be ordering as much as I used to back in the day, moderation is the key here.

We also work out 4-5 times a week as well. Saturday I'll be sure to get exercise in for those extra calories that I can spread around in my meals also. I definitely dont want to starve myself all day just for that dinner. That really wouldnt be worth it.

Hopefully I've given you a little insight and helped. Feel free to ask anything you want and I'm always open to friends!