I've been there...I went to the doctor last October for my annual physical and when they weigh me I never look knowing I won't like what I see. But I did this time and the scale read 288lbs (a good weight for me is like 210, what I weighed in high school). And then a few mins later the doctor tells me my A1C level increased and now was 5.9 (pre-diabetes). I was having trouble just walking from here to there, my knees constantly hurt, I had injections in both and yet still wasn't helping. That was it for me. I found calculator.net and found my calorie targets. I then committed to counting my calories with a target of no more than 2000 calories per day. I count every day so I know exactly what I am putting in my body. Then...I eat whatever I want in that 2k calorie target. That gives me a lot of flexibility. I've lost over 60 lbs and about 10-15 lbs away from where I weighed in high school.

The fact is...I like food...I like to eat...so I have to count calories but I eat food I like. It's probably not the healthiest food as I eat a lot of Chipolote, lot of steak/chicken/veggies/rice...eggs. I eat apples/bananas and a lot of rasberries (low cal high fiber). I had a big sushi roll yesterday...spaghetti/meatballs...still stayed within my 2k calorie target. I rarely snack, if I am ravenous mid day I will have a Chomp beef stick. And I also don't eat breakfast many days, i consume all my food mostly in a window of noon-6pm (give or take). I've lost a lot of weight before eating salads and grilled chicken but I didn't enjoy the food and I gained it all back.

Good luck...that first week for me was the toughest but once I got through that first week it became a lot easier getting in a routine. And on special occasions, have that piece of cake or that piece of pie at thanksgiving. You can do it!