I think the gym helps, but as my nutritionist told me: weight is 90% diet and 10% exercise. So, even if you became a gym rat, it wouldn't help that much (IMO). So, I wouldn't worry too much about the gym thing. I just do the gym to alleviate stress.

I'm on the thinner side, BUT my cholesterol is extremely high, so I'm sort of in the same boat as you guys. I have to eat super healthy in order to drop my cholesterol, just like you would have to eat super healthy to lose weight... and I'm sure it'll take me years to drop my cholesterol. Latuda makes my cholesterol worse, too.

It was hard for me to adapt to a healthier lifestyle, especially since I'm soooo used to eating junk food all the time. I kind of took it slow. For example, I like oatmeal, so instead of eating plain oatmeal, I added flax seeds, which don't change the taste at all, but they're great for you. Another example: if you love pizza, get pizza, but add veggies on top to fill you up. Heck, you can add anything on a pizza... oats, fruits. potatoes... The options are limitless.

Other things you can do: let's say you like Mac & cheese. Make your own with low fat cheese instead of normal, "full-fat" cheese. Save yourself the added calories.

One thing I LOVE to do is make tortilla pizzas. You just take a tortilla (the soft ones), pour some sauce and cheese on it, and add your own healthy condiments to them. (Bonus points if it's on a wheat tortilla.) Bake in the oven for 5 mins. It's healthier than getting takeout pizza, and it takes 5 mins. Tastes pretty good, especially if you add olive oil.

My nutritionist also told me that processed foods really cause your cholesterol to go up, and can contribute to weight gain. (I ate too many carbs and processed foods.) So, she advised me to shop in the organic food section. Surprisingly, the organic food is tastier and it has lower cholesterol, lower carbs, and lower fat. It's just a wee bit more expensive, but I think it's worth it and it's a very simple diet change.