New here

Consistency and developing health habits and routines that are TRULY habits and routines are the keys for me.

Joining the Y and getting on a regular swimming schedule that I keep in my calendar and do not cancel without serious consideration was an important motivator for me. When I swim, I feel like an athlete (even an old pudgy athlete), which motivates me to eat better (because, you know, I'm an athlete and we athletes have to take care of our bodies :-) ).

Everything comes full circle. you get up , eat right, exercise.. then that donut will be less tempting.

Caveat: I'm a bad influence sometimes.

I think consistency and motivation are overrated, at least as often interpreted.

In reality, consistency is an "on average over small-ish time periods" thing, not a "perfect every day or I've failed and should give up" thing. The majority of our days determines the majority of our outcomes, y'know?

Yes, we need to make positive changes we can stick with. But if a "consistency" goal leads to "I over-ate at lunch so I've ruined everything, might as well eat the whole pizza for dinner" . . . that doesn't help. If I overate at lunch, maybe eat less at dinner if I'm not hungry, but mostly just get back on my regular healthy habits as soon as possible. Life happens, including the occasional sub-ideal choices.

Motivation is (still IMO) very over-rated. Maybe I only think that because it's one of my weaker muscles, I dunno.

For me, though, I can't rely on "motivation" or "willpower" to keep me doing something long term. Long term (permanent) is what I need, in order to stay at a healthy weight. I tend to use my limited bursts of motivation to experiment, and find new, sustainable, improved habits I can follow long-term reasonably happily, almost on autopilot. When life gets complicated - as it will - autopilot habits are useful.

I do agree that an exercise habit can be helpful, as it can help us notice what eating habits make us feel good and energetic, vs. those that leave us feeling dragged out, and that sort of thing. For me, what's been key is finding exercise that's enjoyable, or at least tolerable - ideally, though, so much fun I'd do it even if it weren't good for me. Exercise we enjoy (so do routinely) is 100% more effective than theoretically-perfect exercise we put off, procrastinate, avoid at every opportunity.

If gym-y things are practical and positive for you, then a gym membership is a good thing. But lots of other options are out there: Active video/VR games, biking on the local trails, walks in the park, games like frisbee or ping-pong or whatever, etc., etc. Any form of increased movement is beneficial, bonus if it's manageably challenging to current physical capabilities as well as fun. It's a myth that exercise has to be intense, miserable, or punitive in order to have fitness, health or calorie-burn benefits.

Same general idea on the eating side of things: Some rules-y named diet is helpful only if it makes weight loss easier and more pleasant for you. Just eating calorie-appropriate amounts of nutritious foods you personally enjoy eating, find filling, affordable and practical - that will work.

TL; DR: My suggestion would be to think in terms of making weight management and fitness easy and relatively pleasant, rather than trying to make them fast. YMMV.

(Bona fides: I'm in year 6+ of maintaining a healthy weight, after at least 3 decades previously of overweight/obesity.)

I have never joined a gym but my son has on and off but I cant see the point as I no I wouldn't go enough forvthe price so as long as you would then go for it. I have found logging my exercises on here has made me more accountable by adding friends because if I dint feel like it I see some else has worked out and that makes me get moving. Good luck.