Yeah, I lost 50 lbs on my own by eating smarter, running a *****-ton, and lifting weights. It's very possible, but yeah, you have to make some sacrifices. It's not the worst thing in the world if you ease up on some of your expectations, and the final payoff is WAY worth it, even thought the short-term payoffs are slim. Stick with it for at least a month and you'll see some results.

I would suggest you don't become too obsessed with food (unless you already are, and that's why you're dieting now). Don't think about it all day. When it's time to eat, be attentive instead of scatter-brained (which can easily lead to reckless and mindless eating). When it's time to work out, do it and put in a solid effort.

Maintaining your health gets easier when you put a lot of effort in at the start. Your body's like a car. If you get it services frequently, your trips to the mechanic will be relatively cheap, but if you let it go for years without maintenance, you'll have to put a lot more into it at first.