@jake99901 The simplest way is to just get started, please note, it should not be perfect, just consistent! Just start with CICO, track everything, ensure your in a deficiency and just get it going. During the journey you can always later optimize. Just track everything, even if you went to a bar and have 5 beers, just track them.
Work-out: same, tracking my progressive overload. That's why I use an app to keep track, it pushes me to add a bit every week on top of last weeks results. I started slowly, going 2 to 3 times a week to the gym. Now I go 6 days a week, following a solid program that gives me solid results. If you get to learn how to do the exercise appropriate, it is a lot of fun actually. Love strength/weight/power training!
I have "a lot" of cheat days, just ensure a higher deficient on the non-cheat days. I just restrict them to social events, so for things that I do alone, I try to keep my diet clean. When I going out for dinner I care less about it, and ensure I just don't go crazy (3000-3500kcal and not 5000kcal), why my normal TDEE is about 2500-2600 (maintenance). Next day I start healthy eating again...
Trust me, once you see the result, you'll be more enthusiastic. Once I lost about 5kg, I was in so much better space that I kept going. Same with work-out, the first I got to see my visible abs and having a nice looking chest was amazing. Just motivates to keep going. Also, my face become a lot better (I did not have a puffy face, but once I was lowering my bodyfat my face looked even better), so that all inspires to keep going.
