Thank you and straight to your questions
[1] Did I calorie count. No and yes, I just found a very small number of meals I like (mainly pasta based) and I just rotate through them. I did a little check to make sure there wasn't too much fat in them and they where legit healthy. They did change over time (so the sauces I used became more healthy as an example) but tried to find a small number of meals that where quick to prepare that I enjoyed eating that I knew where healthy and stuck to them.
[2] Did I keep track of my eating habits? No, I just made sure to rotate through the meals as above. I think that's why some people like Huel or whatever because it takes the fuss of calorie counting out of it. The hard part is cutting out things you love, so a greggs (I know bad!) bacon roll in the morning was painful to stop having.
[3] What exercise: indoor cycling (with a cheapo bike at first) worked for me, and some light weights. The cycling was for weight loss (and post smoking super difficult!), and the weights to make me feel a bit better about myself and do really help more in a toning way if that makes any sense.
@AndyCr15 I remember reading your posts through out all this and honestly well done for what you've done and your posts really did help
And hell no on the cycle costs, it's like a healthy reward , but legit early on I felt I needed a £1500 bike (I remember thinking I needed pelaton one!) before starting out or a full indoor gym or a £100 month gym subscription that's more that I was aiming at
UL