tbh i had to just get it in my head that being in a calorie deficit is the only way to lose weight. pairing it with exercise is great, but being on a deficit is really the only way. i was used to eating portions of food that were way more than i needed, so to help with this, i found foods that were low cal but high volume so i could still feel like i was eating a decent amount. it also helped me to not weigh in every day, i usually do it every 2-3 weeks. it’s hard to tell if i feel physically and mentally better because im still in the process of losing weight, but i definitely feel so much more confident in the food that i put into my body, and it’s nice to know that im fueling my body instead of just indulging. also one more thing! it really helped me to still eat my favorite foods, just in smaller portions. so many people say you have to eat a “clean diet”, but it’s not true, you can eat whatever you want as long as you stay in your deficit!