You go to your doctor for your yearly physical and the doctor tells you that you are looking at cardiovascular disease if you don't drop some of that weight.  So now you tell yourself that you need to figure out a way to lose weight.  You think about hitting the gym and going on a diet.  Sound familiar? 

Although weight loss may be important for you to change your health picture, it is critical to remember that weight is just a number on the scale.  Remember that if you begin working out you will likely begin to gain muscle mass which weighs more than fat. 

Therefore, I'd suggest that you think about your body composition in addition the the number on the scale.  In other words, find a practitioner that can perform bio impedence analysis for you, which is a test that determines how much of your body weight is fat mass vs. muscle mass vs. water mass.  This information will help you to determine which type of exercise program works best for you and you can monitor how your changed eating and lifestyle habits are working for you. 

In Good Heath!