Getting back after a long time.

Honestly, it sounds like you're off to a good start.

I've been on MFP consistently for over 10 years, loss then maintenance. I've read a lot of posts. It seems like the most common way to fail is by going out hard, trying to radically overhaul eating, cut calories to the bone for fast loss, swear not to eat any treat/junk/fast foods, then maybe stack a punitively intense, miserable daily exercise program on top of that . . . all at once.

That doesn't usually end well, but it typically does end quickly. In a few months or a year, it may be followed by a "back - regained" post over in the Introductions section. I'm not criticizing about that: It makes me feel sad. Reaching a healthy weight and decent-ish fitness has been a huge quality of life improvement for me, and I want that for everyone (you included). I kist don't think extreme tactics are usually the best way to get there.

The people who succeed here long term more often tend to be boring but intentional about it: Find a way of eating that's at minimum pleasant and reasonably filling but that involves calorie dense foods less often or in smaller portions; gradually dial in better nutrition; maybe do some fun - at least tolerable/practical - exercise; think about how to move more in daily life and sit a bit less . . . over a period of time. Ultimately, to stay at a healthy weight, it's about finding new, relatively easy permanent habits that can run almost on autopilot.

If there's fairly regular forward progress, but it's slow . . . so what? That time is going to pass anyway. The question is more like whether that time achieves incremental progress at a manageable pace, or turns into a series of yo-yos with a side of self-recrimination. An easier plan is more likely to be sustainable long enough to lose a meaningful total amount of weight, plus gives more room for that "finding new habits" idea.

You're doing fine. Just keep making manageable postive changes, and I predict you can surprise yourself with what they add up to over a period of time. I did. If you told younger me what my life would be like now, she would've laughed you out of the room over the impossibility of the idea.

Best wishes for success!