My partner and I did the same - one year apart photos. He's down 67, I'm down 64. Started six months in but it's been crazy with the deficit and workouts. We even hiked Mount Washington last month. Totally transformed how we live.
Carbs hit different depending on where you are. Ate them freely in Europe for a month, barely gained. Months of no-carb in North America dropped weight fast. Hormonal changes matter. GLPs let us eat to live, not live to eat.