weight loss when no /little exercise due to disability

Hi

I used to be uber fit, trained hours every day and had to eat junk to keep up with calories used. Then my body got fed up with me not listening to its calls for rest and I got ME, was in bed for over a year and around 17 years later am still off sick and not able to do much in the way of exercise / physical work, or even mental work on bad days. At that time I was around 10 stone, only 5% or so body fat (yes I know, way too low for an adult female!), mostly muscle and loved how I looked.

I am now 40, not able to do much in the way of exercise but desperate to lose the weight that has crept on over the years of inactivity and depression. I have ME And fibromyalgea, which means felling like i have flu (the real thing, not that lesser 'man flu' ) with muscle pain and fatigue, joint pain, headahes, sore throat etc etc constantly, working up to curled in ball crying as feels like have skewers with razor blades at all angles stuck through my joints. This unsurprisingly limits the exercise I can do. Was doing a GP referred aqua class, but at 35 mins or so, was just too much and wiped me out for days afterwards and I couldn't afford the cost of it when could only actually manage about 10 mins of it, so I stopped going. I do manage a slow stroll most days in company of dogs, usually around 45-60 mins, sometimes longer, and a couple of days a week when it is shorter and occasionally none at all. HOwever, anything more energetic is pretty much a no go area.

I managed to lose around 2 stone in last 6 months or so with a calorie controlled diet from a company called Jane plan, food delivered for 5 days and then sort my own for the weekend. (real food, and not bad actually for diet meals, no additives etc and not meal replacement / bars etc which are generally foul!), lots fresh veg and salad, some fruit and occasional small treats. Obviously can't continue with the food delivery indefinetly, can't afford it (was a groupon offer which is why could afford it initially) and it gets a little boring after a while as being veggie, there was a limit to the number of dishes they make that were suitable; so looked for an alternative and came across the Fast Diet otherwise known as 5:2 or IF.

I started this 3 weeks ago with hope of weight loss as well as getting the benefits of lower cholestrol and improve insulin reactions / reduce diabetes risk, as both are issues in our family. Done 5 fast days, today was meant to be the next one but just got really fed up and blew it with chocolate and biscuits as after all the feeling hungry and headaches each fast day I've actually put on weight!! Everyone's stories of losing 3+lbs in first few weeks has really disheartened me when I've gained around the same in the past 3 weeks. I've not binged or anything on the 5 days, eaten well and healthily and pretty low cal from habit, but still I've gained weight Obviously the exercise has stayed much the same, but then it was when I lost the weight to date due to disability.

Very unimpressed at moment, especially as was hoping the fastdiet would help me to continue to lose a little more and then maintain without permanent calorie counting. and so am very disappointed to have had so little success with the 5:2 even though for only a short time to date, wouldn't have expected the gain I got!

My sister recommended the app for calorie counting, but my phone is currently refusing to download it, so logged on to this site to try and find some answers / ideas / support / thoughts to add me in my quest to lose some more weight and stay healthier.

Anyeone in a similar position and able to share any thoughts?

Thanks

Jo

currently 11st 2 lb
5 ft 6.5