There are a bunch of techniques you can use to lose weight. A lot of it depends on your body type too though.
Like aforementioned, pop is bad, there is absolutely nothing good for you in it, and it actually makes you thirsty.
If you're trying to drop pounds, stick to cardio only. Building muscle short of just toning will actually increase your weight or hold it right around the same level. Because your "muscle weighs more than fat."
Hunger is mostly mental, That is why most diets revolve arond eatting something very small every few hours, it keeps you from eating alot and your mind believes you're fed.
and get things like small carrots, apples, grapes. ect to snack on through the day since they're mostly water anyways. And if you do decide to do drastic weight lose like Dr. and others mentioned. We used to stick with eatting spinach at the end of the night for the last meal. Because it's (I think) one of the most vitamin filled things you can eat.