How to maintain a deficit
I’m a 26 year old female who’s 5’3 and I’m 186lbs. (Used to be 192 2 months ago which doesn’t sound like I lost a lot but it makes a difference in how I look) and I’ve been going to the gym for two hours once a week (I’ll go more now since school is almost over and my job will give me proper days off) but my maintenance is 2,174, and my deficit is 1500. But to be honest, I don’t even hit 1,300 calories daily??? (Stress gets to me and sometimes I run into financial problems that make it hard for me to eat more than 1 meal a day) but I haven’t lost any weight? I’m not doing it on purpose but it’s so odd to me that even on days where I barely eat I don’t lose a damn thing. So I’m tryin to do it the right way I bought a food scale and I’m measuring but….its been a month and if anything I’ve been maintaining my weight strictly at 186. It’s so odd what am I doing wrong? Would appreciate some insight! (I’m also aiming to eat 3 meals a day as much I can since 1 is so damn miserable and I don’t think it helps me lose weight at all)
TLDR: I’m measuring out my food and staying in my deficit but I’m maintaining my weight any advice?