Posting my fitness journey from a guy reaching his 30s with a full-time job in Austin
Understanding your body composition
First thing to do is learn how much body fat you have and use it as a baseline. There are multiple ways to do that, some are expensive and some are cheap (also, accuracy is a question)
Dex scan: This is the most accurate one, also gives you detailed composition, like levels of subcutaneous and visceral fat. This costs around $ 50 to $ 60. You need to book an appointment with the facility that has a Dex scan machine.
Smart scale: These things are available in amazon and give you some info other than just weight. But the accuracy is low.
In-body machines in the gym: Their accuracy is a little above smart scales, and almost every gym has one. For example, Dex scan showed my body fat percentages as 25%, and this one showed as 18%, which are take a week apart.
Regardless of their accuracy, use them as a baseline and track your progress. After weeks its good look back and see how far you've come.