I weighed 208 and had an awakening like you did... Had to do something about it. Started running every morning at 5:45 am and counting calories. I got down to 160. I really wanted to break the 160 barrier but never quite got there. Eventually I got away from counting calories and exercising faded to 3 or 4 times a week. I've been able to sustain a weight of somewhere between 173 to 178 now. It's been good, but I wish wouldn't have relented as much I did. It's been 20 times as hard to try and get back to the 160s as it was the first time I got there. My advice to you is try and keep pushing a little further if you can... If you want 165 to be your "maintain" weight... I'd try to get to 160 if you can and give yourself a little wiggle room.

At the beginning of quarantine I've decided to try get back on track.... But I've been stuck at 173 for 3 weeks now. Driving me crazy! Gonna keep trucking though. Thanks for post!