One thing I had going for me at the time that I dont have going for me now...
Age (I was 27 when I started) HUGE factor!
I cant remember what my eating habits were but I think it was pretty decent. I dont remember starving myself like I did when I had my eating disorder problem in my early 20s. I remember having a lot of Smoothies as meal replacements. Also, I know I did have my favorite foods but in moderation.
I worked out 5 times a week. 3 times with weighlifting for 30 mins and 45 mins of fat burning workout and then the other 2 times was 1 hour of straigtht up cardio (kickboxing classes for 1 hour).
I have been trying to get back into that routine again now but life seems more hectic here in Baltmore/DC than it was in AZ.