[Moxie.]

Hey Maria,

Laura is right on about the set point theory. It's entirely possible that your body has reached that point and is simply in the maintenance phase now. It's also possible that your body is still adjusting to your new eating habits. When you skip meals and deprive your body of the nutrition that it needs for extended periods of time, it will start to go into conservation mode. This means that it will hold on to any nutrients that it can get, rather than digesting them normally, because it doesn't know when it will be provided with the things it needs to keep you alive again. While you have been eating healthy for almost a year (which is awesome!), your body may still be preserving most of the nutrients that you are giving it as a safety precaution.

Personally, I think it's in your best interest to keep doing what you're doing right now. If you're currently in a healthy place, it's best not to jeopardize that by beginning to diet. After all, you're still in recovery. A year is without a doubt an incredible amount of progress, but it's only the beginning of your journey. Because you're still in the early stages of recovery, there is a high risk of you reverting to your old behaviors once the diet mindset sets in. If you really want to lose the weight, talk to your doctor or a nutritionist. They'll be able to help you come up with a nutrition and exercise plan that will keep your body healthy while helping you reach a weight that you are more comfortable with. If you choose not to do that, just keep eating healthy and exercising. If the weight is supposed to come off, it will in its own time, which is much healthier for your body.

Remember this: You are not defined by the number on a scale or the category assigned to you by the BMI scale. Current researchers are actually beginning to realize the inaccuracies of the BMI scale, which you can read up on here and here. The point that I'm trying to make is this. If you're maintaining a healthy lifestyle, everything will be okay. It might take some adjustment, but you'll get there.

Take care!