I hope I'm not repeating what everyone else has said, but here's my advice:
Eat what you want, just reduce the quantities. It helps to prepare your own food, or chose to eat as fresh (minimally processed) as you can get.
Exercise. You don't have to do cardio to lose weight (actually doing cardio is less beneficial to weight loss than walking or weight lifting). I have found walking is a great and easy way to lose weight, but you have to walk for longer than 1 hour at a time. 2 hours, 3 times a week, if you can work your way up to it, is optimal for gradual (and sustainable) weight loss.
Limit alcohol consumption, as that is one of the easiest ways to over-consume calories.
I'm the sort of person who won't diet, because I don't see the point of living without enjoying the foods I love. If you eat mostly healthy foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, yogurt, lean meat) then you should allow yourself one treat per day. Try to keep the portion size as small as you can, without feeling like you are limiting yourself.
As long as you are exercising, you can eat plenty of carbs and simple sugars, but you should try to be reasonable about how much fat you are eating. If you aren't exercising, you'll have to watch your carb and sugar consumption too.
Ultimately I think weight loss comes down to the sorts of habits we can make that we can live with over the long-haul. I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all solution. No one wants to hear that -- we all want a quick fix -- but if you can change your daily routine you will find you can be happy and thinner for years to come.
