I don’t think it is unrealistic, but you have to be try to be as active as you were in your 20s. Since lockdown I’ve able to do a lot more daily exercise – just walking, but doing at least 4 miles every other day – and it has certainly made me lose a couple more kilos than I was regularly at before. I’m a 56 male and now do weigh what I was in my 20s.

I’ve done it by 5:2ing for almost 7.5 years now, getting down to the weight I wanted in about 6 months and then trying to maintain it since. Your calorie intake seems incredibly low and I’m not surprised it’s a struggle – although I have no idea how tall you are, nor how able you are to exercise. Are you 5:2ing or calorie counting every day? I could never have done the latter.

I wish you well.