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Exercise-wise I'd thoroughly reccomend trying Pilates, which can be done at home with just an exercise mat, and doesn't require one to be a complete bendy-wendy in order to get real benefits from it. Yes, once you've got the hang of some basic moves, there are some bits of kit that can help increase the effectiveness of some exercises, but they are absolutely not essential. Most of the benefit from Pilates is by using your own body parts as the weights you are moving, and it's no-impact exercise.
With regard to food, I tried cutting stuff out, avoiding stuff, etc, and generally that only had temporary and limited success. What worked better for me was simply reducing portion sizes, and the frequency with which I'd treat myself, plus tilting my diet towards more protein, somewhat less carbs, and quite a bit less sugars. Whilst I'm not (currently) vegetarian (I have been for months at a time in the past), probably about 2/3 of my protein intake is in the form of 'fake meats' - I simply like their taste, and actually prefer their texture to the real thing.
Also, having ones biggest meal at breakfast, a somewhat smaller meal at lunchtime, and smallest one in the evening, plus healthy snacks (eg: rice cakes or crispbreads with cottage cheese, rather than the 'healthy' munchy bars full of carbs and sugars one can buy) inbetween is a thing that I've tried and seems to help me, plus directly after exercise (within the next hour or two) is definitely the best time to consume protein. Oh, and making sure to stay reasonably hydrated, that's very important, both because it ensures your kidneys can function well, and because the fluid fills you up. Water is perfect for this, most commercial 'hydration' drinks are simply not worth it, and skimmed milk is, believe it or not, just about the best thing you can drink after exercise, as it rehydrates you, provides some protein, and some useful vitamins.
I am not a guru on this though - a lot of my information on food comes from an excellent book on sports nutrition that I purchased when I still had some hope of turning myself into an athlete, and the rest from trainers I've had contact with at a couple of gyms.
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