I just started a couple of weeks ago and so far have dropped 4-5 lbs per week. (yeah, I know for us men its easier).
I am just using the simple "calorie counting" diet. As simple as it sounds, just find your BMI, (how many calories you need to stay where you are) then figure out the BMI for someone with the desired weight you want to be (if its a huge amount, pick somewhere in between and go down in smaller increments) and work with that daily caloric intake. It sounds simple, and so far it seems to be for me. Just takes a little willpower (not tons).
Here is a good link from WebMD website http://www.webmd.com/diet/calc-bmi-plus
I have to work within 1400 calories per day to lose around 2lbs per week. To lose 1lb per week it would be around 1800. I just am constantly counting calories on everything I eat. (just guesstimate and keep a running approximate total).
Another website a friend of mine has pointed me to is www.sparkpeople.com On it you can basically keep a running blog on exercise and food. It's easy to enter, plus the website will actually plan you out a daily diet throughout the week. So far I really like it. Seems to be working for me.
As of now I have not been working out, but am scouting out gyms in the area. I used to be a gym rat. Usually there for 2-3 hours a day. But I'm older now, have a family and can't do that, so am looking at one of those 24 hour places with lots of machines and less socializing. (don't laugh at me stardogg cause I'm willing to use machines haha. If the lifting bug hits me again, I might pick up powerlifting after this looooong layoff.)
So anyway the key is awareness. Be aware of what you eat. Eliminate gross amounts of junk but not all because a diet is not a punishment. I'm not going to say, don't eat this or that or make sure you eat said % of this per day and drink 8 glasses of water and do cardio and lift weights, yadda yadda yadda. Sure, to optimize things you should do all of those. But we need to crawl before we can run. You don't go into the gym the first day and expect to bench press 400 lbs. Start off what your comfortable and find what works. If your OK and want to move to the next step become more strict or add a workout.
I guess the number one thing you need to do is make it so you keep doing it. If you know the workouts will burn you out, then hold off on them til your ready.
So i'm starting at like 247. As of last night i'm 238 and ate cookies and peanut butter cups last night. So the number counting thing is working for me. I would recommend it.