One more thing: COVID blew out my thyroid. The weight gain started with Long Covid. My cardiologist sent me to an endocrinologist, she put me on thyroid meds and keeps checking to be sure the levels on right for me. It took a very short time to get them right. I have very slowly lost 3 of those pounds. The holidays knocked me off track. Perhaps your thyroid was damaged too and the above might work for you.