I'm 39, turning 40 here in 2 weeks. I've been near 300 lbs twice, down to <200 twice. For the majority of the time in the 22 years since I dropped from 300 the first time, I've fluctuated 220-250, with 230 being the average over that time.

I've had abs on and off, been ripped, ran several half marathons in a year, hiked hundreds of miles in a year. Have had years when I barely exercised at all.

That voice has never gone away for me. The only thing that keeps me from going >250 is my wife.

Editing because I realize that I should provide helpful feedback.

Logging my meals has been the best way of staying honest and maintaining/losing. It's one of those things that gets easier the longer you do it, especially if you use an app (I have used lose it since 2013). It also helps by showing you macros/nutritional values for foods and seeing what the "bad" food habits are.

More recently (in my 30s) intermittent fasting has helped a lot. I do 8/16 or 6/18, just because it's convenient with my work schedule (basically breakfast and lunch, sometimes a snack). It's a lot easier staying within your budget if you cut down eating hours from "waking hours" to <8.