As others have mentioned, I think the actions are pretty straightforward.
- Make diet changes to eat healthier. Choose foods that you like though so that it’s sustainable long term. You want a lifestyle change, not a project.
- Put yourself in a slight calorie deficit (300-500 calories per day). I don’t know how you can do this reliably without counting calories in some form.
- Measure progress and adjust as necessary
Most people think weight loss is exercise induced, it’s 90% in the kitchen!
Here a few books I’ve read recently that provide more of a system on these basic principles. Pick any one of these books and you’re sure to lose weight, or grab the basic ideas from all of them and put something together that suits you.
Matt Fitzgerald: Racing Weight: How to Get Lean for Peak Performance
Matt Fitzgerald: Endurance Diet
Georgie Fear: Lean Habits
John Walker: The Hacker’s Diet (free!)
Michael Matthews: Bigger, Leaner, Stronger (written for muscle building, but the nutrition section for a cut is very relevant and consistent with the other books listed).