The only thing that is working for me is a healthy low fat diet and a great deal of increased physical activity (including ... yes... excercise). BUT!! I am taking it one step at a time. The food change started right away, with the exception of coffee w/creamer (but I am weening myself off both).
The first week I started by adding a brisk walk to my normal daily activity. I was walking 2.5 miles in 40 minutes. This was a big deal for me as I am also asthmatic. I kept this up for a few weeks. Then I started to jog (which is a painful thing for my arthritic knees) in 1/8 mile intervals. I would walk a brisk mile to the track. Then jog 1/2 the track and walk 1/2, jog 1/2, walk 1/2 etc, then brisk walk home.
I am know up to 3.5 miles in 40 minutes. I am never going to be a Joyner-Kersey, but I will be healthier. Last week I added some small free weight excersises and some core ball work to my daily schedule.
I am clinically obese. I am 5' 5", weigh 246 pounds and have a BMI of 39. The first 2 weeks of my *change of life style*, I lost 12 pounds. Now that may not seem like much, but it was 5% of my previous weight. I have kept it off for a month and now am increasing my physical activity a little more. I see a difference in my body, but more importantly I feel more energetic.
Here is the only site I have been using:
http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/default.htm
Best of luck.