Note: The following opinions are long, rambling and boring. Skip this if you value your time at all.
I have to agree with moose here. Getting rid off at least some animal fat in your diet can work wonders. I probably couldn't go all vegan (I like steak way too much), but decreasing the amount of meat and fat I eat definitely helped my with my weight-loss and digestive problems. I rarely eat pork these days, since it's the fattiest of meats and also kind of bland if you don't drown it in grease. I also replaced carbs in my meals with veggies, which also helped. Instead of potatoes or pasta, I'd have a nice steak with green salad and some grilled zucchini (note, don't go full carb free, you still need those in moderation).
You might want to look into food cultures that use a lot of vegetables and fish in their cooking. Mediterranean cuisine is one of my favorites, as pretty much anything will taste good with just a touch of olive oil, basil, oregano and some tomatoes. Asians foods can also be really good, if you go with real Asian instead of the fatty, westernized versions of those foods. Soups are also really good, if you know how to make those.
On the topic of soda, I think people in general consume way too much sugary drinks. Just by asking for water with your fast food meal you can drop about 200 to 300 calories from the total of that meal. I confess I'm not so saintly that I never drink a Coke, but seeing my little sister's boyfriend consume 2 liters of the stuff per day makes me slightly sick.
PS: This wasn't directed at you specifically, Cuddles. I just felt like rambling.