[opello]

> Personally I'm convinced something happened in my body that made everything easier while I was "sick".

There's evidence that shows major life events can lead to it being easier to adopt changes in behavior, like a new habit of healthy eating and regular exercise.

> I've tried all kinds of weight loss strategies but it just seems so much harder than it was back then.

If it's not too forward and you can adhere to it, I would suggest tracking everything you eat. Given some (1-2 weeks) of baseline data collection, make some tweaks to the macronutrient composition (protein/fat/carbs) of your diet. From that play with it until you find what you need to feel "full" in what you eat and in a way that is sustainable.

I may be strange in that I'm happy eating the same thing all the time. I don't think this is a simple or straight forward process, but approaching it with curiosity and rigor seems to have worked well for me.