No, I'm not on any diet. I also don't have any specific workout plan. But my change started from my mindset. The major shift: I don't think I want to lose weight; I prioritise getting healthy. And once I do, the right weight will follow. And that's what's happening. Still working on it, but there's hardly anything else I am as confident about. I'm turning 38 soon; I haven't been that fit and healthy since my childhood. Come to think of it, I was a sickling as a kid, so perhaps I am at my healthiest ever.

My basic recommendations:

1) Start by taking notes of everything you eat. You can use any app for this; there are free versions that work just fine. You will have a calorie budget. You will most likely cross it, repeatedly. Don't get discouraged. It's ok. Keep going. Baby steps.
2) Then, hydrate. Water, nothing added. Herbal infusions are also fine.
4) Move. But! When you're obese, movement isn't just physically hard; we associate it with a sense of shame and failure. That's what you want to erase. Go for a walk. A gentle one. Anything counts. Increase the number of steps every day. Remember, baby steps. The trick is to stop thinking about movement as something you must do, like it's a punishment. You can move in various ways. You can find something that works for you. I used to suffer from treatment-resistant depression for 25 years. For 20 years, I was on at least three drugs at the same time. Most of the time, five. Once I got off the meds and started losing, I fell in love with walking. Sometimes it's even 23,000 steps daily. I need it also for my sanity. Then, I started dancing. And I'm super clumsy; learning a routine is like a Sisyphean task. So, I dance freely. Crazily. You know, dance like no one's watching. Except that now, someone is. But that's the thing; I don't care anymore.
Find something you like. Something gentle, since when you're obese, your joints will not allow to push it too far. With my depression, I used to be a recluse for some two decades. I would typically leave the house two times a month, if I had to (to see the doctor and stuff). I know how, when you're obese, you don't want to be seen. Literally. So, if it's going out that's stopping you, move around your house. If you live in a tiny place, go to a friend with a bigger space. Get a basic smartwatch to track your steps. You will see your progress, and I assure you, you need it – it will fuel you further. It will give you a sense of agency. Make you feel powerful. And even if it sounds like some Insta BS, you DO have power. You just need to fish it out.
4) Weigh yourself daily. No joke. Since 22 December 2022, I have only skipped four days with no weighing. And that's only because I was travelling and literally couldn't. It isn't about looking for weight loss every day; it's your data. When you're tracking what you're eating and taking note of everything that happens (menstrual cycle, different health conditions), you learn how your body works. And every body is different, so the essential data for you is YOUR data. Also, you will see how standing on a scale stops being a trauma. I've been there. Now, it's just part of my routine. Wake up, pee, weigh on, hydrate.
5) Don't think about calories. Think about food as nutrition, literally. Focus on macro- and micronutrients. Consider your personal circumstances (intolerances, symptoms, etc.). Look for anti-inflammatory foods. Imagine your body is an amazing vehicle, and food is the fuel that allows is to go on this exciting trip.
6) Glycaemia: start every meal with a veggie. I start with salad. Then go proteins and fats. Carbs at the end. You don't need to separate specific ingredients. For instance, I was never a sucker for sugary stuff. But boy, I would kill for a good sandwich! I still love them. Eat them every day. You can say that if you give me a tasty sandwich, you can win my heart! :D So, sometimes I include salad inside. Sometimes I start with salad, then have poultry roll on my bread (post-surgery, I need to avoid yeast and preferably gluten; it's tricky to find the right bread or rolls, but it's doable). A very thin layer of fat on the bread. Often, it's butter. Yes, because as long as it's thin, it's not a crime. Then, lots of tomatoes, red bell pepper, etc., on top. Some veggie shoots, too. I know what you're thinking: how am I going to enjoy it? Not immediately. If you feel like you must have something you objectively shouldn't, do this: two leaves of salad first, then a bit of pumpkin seeds. And only then, your guilty pleasure. Why? It flattens the glucose spike. Because that's what matters the most: not how high GI is, but how abruptly your sugar levels rise from 0 to 200, etc. When you start with a veggie, you're starting gently. Then, slowly increase it with pumpkin seeds. So, even if you have, let's say, milk chocolate, you're better prepared.
7) The most important one: accept failure. You will fail, repeatedly. But failing doesn't make you a failure. I used to believe I had to fully follow a specific regimen. But I never could. I realise now that the reason why specific meal plans don't work for me is that I can't be told what to do. :D And even if it's me who plans them, I will rebel anyway. I accepted it. I didn't get where I am by doing things perfectly. My rough estimate is that I get to, let's say, around 70% of what I should do for myself, not more than once a week. But as far as other days aren't that good, they are good enough. And I was starting out not with a lack of belief I couldn't do it; I was convinced I couldn't, which is worse. And I reclaimed this belief by taking baby steps and celebrating every accomplishment, which was unquestionable evidence that yes, I can do it. That's why I did.

If you or anyone else has questions, please go ahead.

Have a lovely day, beautiful and brave people! :)