Don't cut calories too drastically, it can slow down your metabolism. Use a calorie needs calculator like the one on exrx to get an idea of what you need to maintain your current weight and go from there.
Although it's technically possible to lose fat on any diet as long as caloric deficit is achieved, it is easier to maintain longterm, and overall healthier to eat a balanced, nutritious diet of things like whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruit, unsweetened dairy products, fish, eggs, nuts, olives, etc. Basically complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats. A simple way to cut calories is to identify any junk food you eat regularly and make it an occasional treat instead. For example I used to drink soda and/or juice every day, but now drink various unsweetened teas, water, or milk.
That said, it's possible to eat a nutritious, appropriately portioned meal and still be ready to chew your arm off. Many vegetables are great to fill up on because they're mostly fiber and add negligible calories. Some people like shirataki/konjac noodles for this, or fiber supplements.
Long-term, lifestyle changes like NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, basically moving more in general), including hot peppers as a regular part of your diet (capsaicin burns fat), and exposure to safe levels of cold (encourages brown fat to burn white fat to keep the body warm - think cold showers, ditching the coat/sweater when it's cold but not dangerously so, not cranking up the heat at home in winter) can add up too. Finding a kind of cardio you enjoy enough to do 20-30 minutes every day makes things easier than trying to consistently do something you can barely stand.
And, I see upper body weight lifting moves talked about a lot, but not obliques. Building up the obliques contributes to a "straight up and down" look, IMO. Dumbbell side bends are good for this.
