There is much truth in the idea that people usually lose weight if they eat more frequent, smaller meals. Right away you should overhaul your thinking though and focus on becoming a smaller, fitter you, and less on achieving a specific weight.
Start out by writing down everything you eat, drinking lots of water, limiting or banning soft drinks all together, and limiting caffeine intake. Also, if you smoke quit today.
Figure out what your target heart rate is and start out by doing low-impact exercise
such as walking that gets you in that range and keep it there for 30 minutes each day. As your body rediscovers its muscle memory you will become more energetic and flexible, and can then increase the intensity without injuring yourself.
As you stated, you didn’t get to this weight overnight, and losing it will also be a process. Since you are starting your regimen in the spring, there are lots of others doing the same exact thing, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a work-out buddy to help keep you motivated. Or, if you have a dog or know a friend whose dog doesn’t get much exercise, they also make wonderful exercise companions.
Good luck, and remember – any weight you lose will make a tremendous difference on the workload your heart and joints have to endure…. so keep at it and don’t become too consumed with a specific weight number. Your true goal should be becoming healthier.