You know, I don't know how overweight you are, but you don't really have to start with food that you never would have eaten before. Maybe I'm talking out of turn here (and please tell me if I am), but I've been "dieting" since New Years, and lost 37 lbs. just cutting down on the stuff I already eat. Just limit yourself to a set caloric intake. I never paid attention before, but now do 2000 calories a day, plus make sure I eat breakfast (I never ate breakfast before), something like a bowl of cerial. And when I eat cerial, I eat the recomended 3/4 cup of cheerioes. Not a huge bowl and then go back for seconds.
Now, as to the stuff I already eat, here's an example: I like crappy frozen burritoes. I get these small ones that come in a family package (8 to a box). They are 300 calories each. I used to eat four of them for a typical lunch. Yeah, I know. Now, I only eat two, and typically can't even finish those. Another example: I still like to go out to fast food places. However, I'll get a six inch sub from Subway instead of a footlong, and it will be on wheat instead of white. Plus, I switched to diet soda/pop. Huge caloric savings right there...
Like I said, just doing this, and being sure to track my calories so that I knew I wasn't cheating, I've lost 37 lbs (going from 317 to 280) since January 2nd. Yes, it was hard at the beginning, and every now and then, I'll want something that I know I shouldn't have, but I can't tell you how good it feels (my wife has also lost a similar amount of weight) to see each other put on clothes and laugh at how baggy the stuff is. I know that it will take a life long committment to stick with this, and I also know that I need to start more physical activities to keep the weight off (my weight loss to this point has been entirely dietary change). That, however, is phase two. Right now, I'm enjoying the fruits of my labor.
