This is what I know of working out and getting rid of what you don't want.
Diet - You have to have good eating habits. This means eating good. It doesn't mean you have to start eating carrots, bread and drinking water. To start out - eat out less, eat less deep fried stuff, eat less fatty foods. If you try to go from whatever your habits are now to a completely healthy your body (and mind) are going to reject it. This also means eating more meals a day too. By doing this it helps your body stay in a state where it burns continuously.
Cardio - Get some cardio going. This can be a walk around the block after dinner or all the way up to a crazy spin class or a tae-bo class. Just get that heart rate up from where it is used to it. Heck, instead of taking the elevator at work, take the stairs. Anything.
Weights - Some people think that lifting weights is not part of loosing weight. When in reality, it is. It stimulates the body in a different way than cardio does. Cardio burns body fat. When you work out, you are making your muscles break down and when they break down they have to repair and when they repair they use energy. So, even after you work out, you are still burning fat.
A few other suggestions, almost as important as the things above.
Set small goals that you can meet, but still have to work to achieve them. It will help you motivate you to make harder goals down the road.
Take pictures every month to track progress. You may not recognize change because you live with your body every day. But if you have pictures, it will remind you that you are making progress.
Find someone to take the journey with you. Girlfriend, wife, friend, fitness trainer. They will help keep you accountable too.
Don't weigh in every day. If you do, you may run the risk of scale-fixation. The goal of weight loss should be you feeling better about your body, not digit counting. Our bodies naturally fluctuate weight to some degree. If you feel better then you will want to continue. Also, scales can lie. You can be improving in your weight-loss journey and be gaining weight! This is especially true if you are lifting weights. Track your weight and body fat. If a member of a gym, they normally will do this for free. If not, you can possibly pick up a cheap body fat monitor.
If you have any questions, I know I'd be happy to help. Shoot me a message anytime.