Hello, all, any advice for a newcomer to this game?
I had to see my GP recently, who told me to lose weight and take more exercise. I also need to reduce my blood pressure, which seems to mean cutting down on salt. I am 5ft 7, I weigh about 12st / 80kg. I say 'about', as my scales don't seem very accurate - I can lose half a stone if I stand on them in a particular way 
Anyway. BMI shows me as well into the overweight category. I do Pilates, I have taken up lunchtime and evening walks, as I'm not really a gym bunny. It's the food bit that's baffling me. I've made some changes to my diet but don't think I was overeating. Would love to hear your opinions.
Breakfast was fruit juice, no-added-sugar Alpen with full cream milk, 1 cup tea with a little sugar. I have switched to Shredded Wheat.
Lunch was either 2 bread rolls, flora, meat (ham or chicken or turkey) plus salad leaves, blob of low fat mayo. Switched to home made veg soup plus ryvita or 1 roll.
Evening is things like spag bols, pasta dishes with tom sauce, pork chops & boiled pots, steak with boiled pots, casseroles - pretty much everything is home made, always with veg (broccoli, carrot, courgettes, parsnip etc).
Coffee during the day, splash of semi-skimmed milk, no sugar. Snacks are apples, and the odd scone, or a chocolate biscuit at the weekend.
We eat out once or twice a month, usually just starter and main, and I watch what I choose.
About once a month we do a cooked breakfast with bacon, fried or scrambled egg, wholemeal toast.
Alcohol is about 1 unit per day (wine).
We don't do take-aways, I rarely eat crisps, I have the odd chocolate.
How can I cut down and lose weight? (Sorry for the essay!)