Thanks for the reply, it's good to hear.
I have been of reduced calories for longer than I can remember and I'm no stranger to my local gym/pool, although even at my most intense exercise regime (5 X 1km swim, 3 X 1hr gym, 1 hour personal trainer, ! hour swimming lesson and a round of golf every week), it made absolutely no difference at all except for my whole body just aching continuously).
Your last sentence sums it up, we're all so very different. I will find the answer to my particular conundrum . . . . . eventually.
I never watched what I ate before.
I always ate and drank without any great issue
I was fairly active, but like many moved into a desk job, and become too busy to really pursue sports anymore.
Hotels, expense account, evenings where the only thing to do was eat, and I gained weight.
Diabetes was a wake up call, so I changed my lifestyle.
Calorie restriction and exercise.
Which I still do to keep on top of my weight.
Fortunately I do have a metabolism that seems to work 'normally' in the sense it needs energy in to carry on, if I don't eat as much as I need, I do lose weight.
Obviously there are peaks and troughs, but I have no doubt if I don't eat, eventually I will die, but I will be very thin first!