Finding it hard this time - have put on 8kg. Can you help me?

[Cursebreaker30]

I’ve learnt a lot from this MN board about my BMR and the calories I should eat per day, calories in and calories out. I have always successfully lost weight with it but I have hit a stumbling block.

I am 41, 172cm and for the past decade (except when pregnant with DC) I have mostly been between 63-66kg On the occasion it has gone up to 68-70kg I have done calories in/out calculation and reduced consistently to get back to maintenance.

since the beginning of this year I have been checked the scales and I am now going between 70-75kg. I am eating more or less similar to last year, if anything I am exercising more. Is it age? Peri Menopause? Metabolism? I am year two into a high dose of anti depressants, could it be that?

I have had bloods done, there is no thyroid issue (although my mum did have a very under active thyroid..) so I am doubling down in my calculations and need your help. I know the numbers don’t lie.

currently I am 69kg. This is after walking 12,000 steps a day and eating between 1300-1600 for two weeks. I must be mis calculating or something.

what should my calories per day be to be in a proper deficit? Is there anything I can buy or would you recommend any products that can tell me in no uncertain terms the calorie count of the food I am eating?

This is me, word for word. Have always managed to lose weight easily(ish) before, now I’m 42 and it’s just so much slower.
I’ve been on high exercise routine for 6 weeks and eating well for 4 weeks, and I’ve lost 3lbs so far.
I’m trying to focus on sustainable changes, high protein, weight lifting etc, but I am starting to wonder if my calorie deficit needs to reduce further.
So you’re not alone, but I don’t have a magic cure either.

Your body can adjust to the calories you've been on for awhile so, if you've been on the same calories and no other changes, the change could just be your age which means a drop in calories is required.

I was watching someone on YouTube and he said if your weight goes up or down, in either direction you don't want, add/reduce 250 calories and monitor for a month then you'll have your new baseline assuming there are no other changes like increased exercise etc.