Low carb but not keto and lots of walking... Lost 200lbs

No secret to weight loss. Although there is newer research that offers more information on how our bodies work with different foods. The biggest take away for me was that sugar(and some zero calorie alternatives as well) has a dial effect on bodies that actually makes our bodies want to make more fat. Like eating the same amount of calories but getting it all from sugar will lead to more fat being developed or left all other conditions being the same. As for the original question it's about sustainability. Make small steps not life shifts. Like first one caloric drink a day with a glass a water. Then all caloric drinks with zero calorie alternatives. Then finally mostly water. You get the idea and the same kind of steps can be done with food but it's harder there imo especially if you're social.

I had good results years ago by going very slowly, use an app to track my calories and exercise. From that experience, exercise only helps IF you don't replace every calorie lost with one eaten (easy to do when hungry after a workout, ESPECIALLY with supposedly healthy foods you often find at gyms). I did get more exercise, but my main thing was eating fewer calories. I lost about 40lbs. I did it so slowly, over a couple of years I think. It made it easier for me. Like taking 1 slice less of pizza instead of 2 or 3 less. I also was able to eat WHAT I wanted, by adjusting other things through the day and not eating a lot of it. My nutritionist, who is AMAZING and ONLY talks weightloss if asked, suggested NOT counting, but 1) Eat much smaller portions, though as many as needed, waiting 15 or 20min between. 2) Doing nothing else while eating, so you notice every bite. 3) Drinking at least 16oz of non calorie liquid each meal. I think that was all. It sounded good, but not very doable for me, especially not doing anything else while eating. He said most people get so hung up on calorie counting though, it derails them. His steps are super simple, and he finds they work great for most people. But counting worked better for me when I did it, before I met him.

I drink a lot of water, eat kale and crackers, follow a plant-based diet but when I was first diagnosed I was vegan.. Then ate fish, anyway made better lifestyle choices and I lost a lot weight my levothyroxine started working and I felt so much better I've been on the lowest dose now for over 5 years