There’s no magic. I tried “better habits” including using a bike for literally all transit, no candy, gym three times a week, etc. with zero effect on my weight

There’s no magic. I tried “better habits” including using a bike for literally all transit, no candy, gym three times a week, etc. with zero effect on my weight. Then I just started counting calories using an app and hitting a calorie target. Bam, 15 kg off. The challenge is “will power” at the start, but you adapt. Part of adaptation is getting accustomed to new feelings and part of it is learning how different foods effect your sense of satiation. When I would be too hungry, I would go ahead and eat, but still count everything and then the next day I would experiment with different foods. Through part of it I remember hitting a very low carb target (under ten percent) and this working for me. I used an app, Fat Secret, which has a good product database for Poland, and I would actually just not eat things if they’re hard to count. So my diet would need to be more “legible” and so, ironically, I could eat McDonald’s but not other places because its food was better documented. Once I hit my target I changed my diet to bulk deliberately (I am weight training) but I still count everything. It’s just different targets. (Learning to use free weights and lift is it’s own adventure. I recommend.) I have to say a positive and surprising part of the experience is women blowing smoke up my ass about it. My pet theory is that basically everyone now lives like a 90s “nerd”, binge watching Star Trek with a six pack of beer, so if you put literally any effort into your body and clothing, you’re ahead of everyone.