Is the second time around always a charm?

This is my second time using the myfitnesspal (mfp) program; the first time was a success! I set my goal of losing 1-1/2 pounds per week, and I started this program in October of 2016. It turned out to be a good time to be on a mindful eating program since most of us mindlessly eat during the holiday season. I ate and drink many of the holiday indulgences, log them in mfp, and kind of stayed on track. In 6 months, I lost 33 pounds (averaging 1 1/2 lbs. per week). I lived a sedimentary lifestyle and still lost the weight successfully. Well, life happened. Since 2016 I went back to school full-time to work on a master’s degree and worked in an internship program to become a secondary school teacher. There is something about me, studying for school, and mindlessly eating; they seem to flourish at the same time. Not needless to say, I put that 33 pounds back on with a vengeance times three.
This is my second time on this program starting at 63 years old, again starting in October ready to embrace the holiday season. It seems harder this time. When I went back to mfp 2016 food history log I saw that I ate & drink many forbidden foods, including Burger King breakfast burritos (800 plus cals) and beer, and yet I still lost the weight. This time I think I am going to make better choice so when I do take on another one of life’s big challenges and become unconscious of my food choices I don’t retreat back to old eating habits. Oh yea, some exercise this time too.