Am I good enough "fitness" role model for my daughter ?

[NeedsWeightLossAdvice]

I had gained a ginormous amount of weight during and after my pregnancy. I have lost weight but I am in a weight loss plateau. Today I weigh-in at 186 lb at 5 feet 8 inches. I eat right, measure my calories, measure my marcos, and I work out almost everyday. I try to do at least 30 minutes of cardio everyday. I am active outside of exercise as I garden and clean. I'm constantly in workout clothes and for good reason.

I still fear I'm not a good fitness role model for my daughter. I have a belly and flab. I'm losing hope I'll get back thin so I am imagining being struck with way, forever. I am wondering what my daughter may think. Any advice ?

Model good self esteem in your body, your daughter may grow up to be a similar body shape. Model valuing your good health, self esteem and mental well being. Your daughter will love you for you and your love of life.

Well done on the weight loss. Sounds like you are modelling an active lifestyle to your daughter. What how many calories do you eat daily?

Sometimes I go as low as 1000 calories but never over 1800 calories.

I am not confident in my body so it's hard to model good self esteem in my body.

Honestly? To me, it sounds like you are in danger of being the opposite- teaching her about a healthy balanced lifestyle, including rest and recovery, as well as exercise is just as important.

Interesting.
I do get at least 7 hours of sleep. Is that enough ?
Or that's not what you meant ?

I think attitude is probably the most important thing. My mum growing up was very fixed on both our weights, constantly dieting, lots of talk about bad food, poor self image etc and what I took from that was eating "bad food" in secret to feel better, negative self image and pressure to be skinny to be worthwhile.

What i now have learnt that I wish I'd had modelled for me, was that all bodies are worthwhile, all bodies deserve respect and care, that exercise and diet isn't a punishment for being overweight- is a form of selfcare and doesn't have to be restrictive and it should be a fun part of life. Also just being less self conscious I think would have helped me feel better about going to do sport - I was always scared to get red or sweaty because that was a sign of unfitness which was unacceptable so I was embarrassed. Whereas now I've really dropped that and it's so freeing. I'm actually not super far from my heaviest but I'm also at my most active and I have a neutral relationship with my body. I know it deserve love and care, I also know it deserves to move and be fed well but I don't critique myself, I let ds see me enjoying my food and we don't talk about good or bad food, we talk about what different foods do for our body and how that affects portions. So we eat more foods that have a purpose and support our body and less food that's just nice to eat but doesn't really help our body with nutrients. You can obviously do that in whatever way is age appropriate for your child.

But I think the key really is looking at yourself, recognising all your body has carried you through, identifying where/who YOU got the negative mindset from and who's voice that actually is, and you choose to do that work every day. I'm selective with what content I see on social media and I make sure my feed has content from women of all shapes and sizes including women who are active and bigger. Do exercise in ways you actually enjoy that make you feel good. Your dd deserves to see that side of you and so do you. You have always been enough just as you are.

This is so powerful and eye-opening. I hope we can more about it.