Hi LouBelle,
The battle of the bulge is actually a war! I have fought the various skirmishes for years, and I think you are on the right track in going with the basics of healthy eating, portion control and exercise. One program that I have found very useful is Weight Watchers Online. It is not magical, but it definitely helps you organize and track the right kinds of foods and exercise. I found it to be very helpful in keeping me on track. I finally got to my goal weight and have found that maintaining it is much easier with the continued tracking of what and how much I am eating. I wish you the best...don't get discouraged...remember it is a lifestyle, not a diet!
TYA