I've lost significant weight in my life a few times; both deliberately through calorie counting, and involuntarily because of health problems. Toward the end of 2019 I noticed that my eating habits were not aligned with my fitness goals, and I felt uncomfortable in my usual clothes.
Calorie counting with the help of a free app helped me track what I was eating but I didn't see results, which would cause me to feel hopeless and give up on the effort in the short term, before deciding I had enough and giving myself a new start.
This cycle was frustrating and I knew I needed something different. Internet research led me to the concept of tracking macros as well as the existence of online coaching.