Using 5:2 (day) fasting I was fairly successful a few years ago. I think since I did 5:2 I am now in a much better place for plain calory-counting (if I used up my calories I know I will last the rest of the day without food).
Maybe I'll pick it up again at some point, potentially combined with calorie counting. on the feeding-days.
I read about the 5:2 and it seems quite doable and reasonable.
We learn from each attempt and the last one informs the future ones. I'm coming up on my 9th anniversary of my first log entry, July 9th 2014. Its on July 9th every year that I decide my strategy for the coming year. Counting is dead simple and second-nature now, but I remember and know it's hard to start.