First day 90kg 166cm (198lbs 5’5)

Yes, what she said! (Although I do think there are strategies for eating out . . . I ate out probably once or twice a week at least, while losing.)

Many people don't realize that eating a mere 100 calories over our needs on average daily will add about 10 pounds in a year. That's like half a serving of peanut butter or a blop of creamy salad dressing worth of calories. It can creep in that way, or it can come from a weekly or even biweekly restaurant indulgence with fried apps, drinks, rich dinner, dessert.

To gain 44 pounds in a year, that's around 421 extra calories daily on average, maybe the equivalent of one peanut butter sandwich, or a handful of chips and a craft beer, or one of those nice big fast-food cookies. It is super easy to eat that, not even notice. (Don't I know it, sez the formerly obese li'l ol' lady! )

Of course, it doesn't need to be from just extra food. It can be a combination of food, and less movement in our day: More sedentary job, fewer active home chores, more TV or computer, etc. In your case, it's quite probable that you're right, and that less movement was part of the picture. Research suggests that a fidgety person burns up to low hundreds of calories more per day than an otherwise similar less-fidgety one. I'm not saying that you should be fidgety! The point is that small, almost unnoticed things do make a difference.

The great thing is that you've realized that it's time to reverse that. The chatter above suggests - rightly, I think - that it doesn't necessarily require some miserable extreme diet or punitive exercise program, let alone both. IME, we can harness those same ideas about relatively non-radical changes in habits adding up, but using that concept to move in a positive direction. The easier we make the path, the more likely we successfully complete it.

No, it isn't easy every second. It takes patience and persistence, absolutely. But IME it's doable . . . and the results are more than worth it.

I'm cheering for you to succeed!

ETA FYI: I started around your current size, 5'5" and 183 pounds (83 kg) - though at one time I was your weight. This morning, I was at 127.2 pounds (around 57.7 kg). I've been in that latter neighborhood for 7+ years now. No need to pick that as a goal weight, pick whatever fits *your* body. I promise this is achievable! :flowerforyou: