If you have constant bloating and retention of water or weight, all in your mid-section, it's likely something imbalanced in your digestion (gut health). You can try taking a **really high quality** probiotic (we're talking 32 strains, 80+ billion cultures, find it in a cold section, health food store). That helps, as a start.

A lot long-haulers do really well with NO sugar, or other inflammatory foods in their diet, to get gut imbalances and inflammation in control. Your diet sounds really healthy, but like most highly processed foods in the United States, Activa has 10-15 grams of sugar (that's a lot in one little cup!), your "protein shake" likely has lots of sugar too. Wheat Thins -- also lots of sugars, syrups, mystery ingredients... It's unfortunate but that's the reality in this country.

So, while counting calories worked well for you before, it's now a matter of balancing your digestion and once back in order you should be ok!