Bstndance,
I'm mainly changing my diet not to lose weight but as a way to feel better about myself (better energy, better attitude, better health)
Those are the only reasons to do it, and if whenyou hit on the right combination of foods and exercise physical exertion you will also lose weight anyway, without discomfort.
Of course this assumes that you're actually overweight now. Even if you don't (really need to) lose weight, your health and energy level will improve.
Personally, I find that I have to eat carbs sparingly for best health; but unless I have a big, protein-rich breakfast each day I crash by 11:30. So that means meat and egg and a little whole-grain hot cereal. I do like vegetables mixed into my egg, though. I eat one or more vegetables at almost every meal. Potatoes don't count. Besides this, I'm giving up all white flour products. We eat white-flour pasta maybe once or twice a week now; everything else is whole-grain.
gently feral