Please help!

[weightlosshandhold]

The story...

So aged 16-21 ish I had an eating disorder. I was anorexic and later bulimic. When I went to uni I was still suffering but less so. I my my DH in my final year and bam, cured.

I have since had 3 DC. Put on LOTS of weight, to the point I was very far inti the 'overweight' BMI category. I'm short and was a Size 16, so I looked overweight. M

I have found it so incredibly hard to loose weight healthily. I tried calorie counting, gave up alcohol completely and exercise regularly (couch to 5k). I then pretty much stopped eating, except rice cakes, salads etc and the odd treat. I've lost some weight but am now only just in the 'healthy' category. If I stop now I will just go back up to where I was.

I have now plateaued. I cannot shift a single pound more, even if I eat the minimum and go for a long run every day.

I want to set a good example for my children. I want to be a healthy weight, so not over or under, just healthy. But I just can't shift this last stone that I need to, to get me into the middle of the 'healthy' range.

Any advice would be much appreciated! Thank you!

It honestly reads to me like you still might have some issues around food and control etc.

e.g. "I then pretty much stopped eating, except rice cakes, salads etc and the odd treat."

or

"even if I eat the minimum and go for a long run every day"

I might be way out there so forgive me, if I am.

However, if I'm not then the healthy thing for you to do, for yourself and your family, might be to sit where you are for a year. You are in the healthy weight range (albeit, only just), so just practice maintaining it for a year.

Understand your energy requirements and eat them. Try to eat 80% of them through healthier foods and up to 20% through indulgent foods.

Take the time now to understand what it is like to live in balance with yor body - not fight against it.

Then, after a year, start to think about healthy ways to introduce a small deficit to start losing again. I suspect the lack of loss right now is your body's way of figting back against you. Instead of doubling down for a bigger battle, work with your body, nourish it and allow it to stabilise and relax, before starting to lose again.