Probably a good story but not helpful or me and I am one of the lucky ones.

Yes, I gained your text book amount. One pound a year starting when I was in my twenties and weighed some where in the 130's. I always was a skinny kid. in my 30’s I was up to closer to 160 and in my 50’s I finally broke through the BMI of 25 at 180 pounds and 5'10". So before I turned 60 I was officially overweight. All through my 50 I was watching my calories and getting exercise but still gained weight.

Your story is missing something. I got as heavy as 185 and I had been reducing my calorie intake for a decade. I put together an Excel spreadsheet to track my calories. I stopped eating my morning snack, then I stopped eating breakfast except for coffee. I moderated my afternoon snacking. I reduced the size of my dinner.

I refused to give up lunch on work days and I refused to give up my wine with cheese and crackers in the evening. I had cut my calorie intake in half but I was still gaining weight. For three decades as an adult I could eat anything I wanted and I would only gain a pound a year. Now I was eating a lot less than I wanted and I was still gaining a pound a year. I am at least as active as I was when I was younger.

I got my weight back down to 180 by intermittent fasting. I don’t eat anything but coffee on my days off from work before 5 pm. I don’t know how long this will work but your advice about giving up the wine and cheese is a non-starter.

TEK