Something that worked for me is an iso-caloric diet (i think that's what it's called). Here's how it's done.:
First, figure out the approximate amount of calories for everything you eat, using this website:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
Second, record what you eat in a week to maintain your weight. Average out what you eat in a day and that number is (approximately) what you need to maintain.
Figure out how many calories are in one ounce of chicken, beef, steak, turkey, yams, red potatoes, etc. I'm assuming you already know what foods are healthy... What helped me is listing the carb/protein/fat breakdown of every food I'm likely to eat on a piece of paper, then hanging it on the fridge.
Buy a food scale... about $40 or less if I remember correctly.
Next, cook good food and weigh it out. Get your total meals in a day to be 500 calories less than what it takes for you to maintain. If it takes 3000 to maintain, eat 2500 per day.
The iso-caloric part is the breakdown of carbs/protein/fats. Go for 33%/33%/33% of each. Remember, protein is 4 calories per gram, carbs 4 calories per gram, and fats
9 calories per gram.
Don't count fibrous vegetables like salad in your daily calculations.
Wow, what a PAIN IN THE ASS! You bet. But only for about 2 weeks. Then you start to know what you're eating, and it becomes habit. Once you have the habit, it's pain free. I had my first cut about 6 months ago, and I don't even really need to weigh my food out anymore. I just know how many calories are in what, and I know how my body should feel when I'm cutting or bulking.
Go for variety in your meal structure. Not only is it healthier, but you won't get so sick of the healthy food. Take 10 minutes out of your day to find a new recipe every once in a while. And another thing. Fuck protein powder. I only use 30g after I work out, but that's not even mandatory. You definately don't need it.
Also, instead of trying to lose weight AND gain muscle (very difficult), try cutting and bulking phases. For 2 months cut, for 2 months bulk, etc.
This is not the ONLY way to lose weight, but it worked for me. Two weeks of work + $40, and you know how to manage your weight for life.... seems worth it to me.