I have been counting my calories now for about 10 months and My family thinks I have become obsessed and too Small. I dont like to think that I just want to maintain my weight and I know if I go back to my old eating habits I will put it back on. I used to weigh around 134lbs and be a size 8-9 and now im 99-100lbs and a size 0-2. I still think I am alittle fat how crazy is this I know im proberly what I should be for my height just under 5"3 but the calorie counting is becomming like an obsession and I feel guilty if I eat too much. I realy just want to know if anyone else has had this happen to them while on a low calorie diet did you get over the counting when you were at your goal weight?

Victoria.

It sounds like you are at a weight that you should have evaluated by a doctor.

Maybe it's fine and you're just a tiny person, and you're just working to figure out how to maintain; or maybe it's unhealthy, with an unhealthy focus, and a quiet disaster is taking place in your life; or maybe you're on the edge, flirting with being headed to a bad place.

So, find a good professional and ask the same question, so that you get an educated answer from someone who can evaluate you.

Important question; my answer is just my opinion, I'm certainly not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv.

Well I have heard for every 5 feet = 100 and every inch after = 5-10 pounds depending on bone structure. So you might want to be 115-130. Here is a link to womens nutritional calculator. It goes by weight, age, heighth, current weight, goal weight. So maybe if you want to put on a few pounds but dont want to over gain, put in how much you weigh, and how much you would like to weigh. It will tell you how many cals to get so maybe you can up them a bit?

I think personally, that calorie counting is part of my daily life, and has been-for years. For me-it is not an obsession. It is a regular part of my day, and a healthy part of it.

I do not believe that it is the CALORIE COUNTING that is your obsession, really...not the counting itself, I mean. What does seem to be the obsession, is a possibly unhealthy weight for your height-and an obsession with possibly eating a TOO LOW number of calories per day to maintain that weight.

How many calories do you eat per day? If your number is 1000 calories a day or below-then it isn't the calorie counting that is the problem-it is the NUMBER of calories that you are limiting yourself too that IS.

It is hard for me to say if you are actually underweight/too thin right now-without seeing you in person, or seeing photos. It depends on your frame, really.

What does bother me, and concerns me, is the fact that you can wear a size 0 and think that you are still "fat". This, to me, says that you may be developing a problem-and that you should speak to your doctor about it.

Your coming here tells me that you are at least a little concerned about this YOURSELF, and because of that-I suggest that you go to your doctor immediately, or at least to a counselor. The possibility of developing an eating disorder is something that you should take care of right away-and it is a problem that we here at 3FC are not equipped to deal with.

How many calories are you eating per day, and are you still losing weight? According to your numbers your BMI is 17.9, 18.5 is the low end of normal weight. I think luvmypup is right, you might want to see a doctor to make sure you are healthy. I'm not sure what your build is. I know the fear of gaining back after losing, but you pose risks of being under weight as well as overweight. Take care of yourself!

Thanks for the advice it did help and sorta makes me think I might have a problem I do eat 900-1000 calories a day and I worry if I eat more I will put the weight back on but I dont realy get hungry and those amount of calories a day seems to make me feel fine and I dont feel I am starving myself. Maybe its just because my body is used to just getting that much now? I remember when I first started my calorie counting 10 months ago I was starving on my no more than 1000 calorie diet but now I dont feel hungry at all.. I am a small frame person anyway but I may make a dr appt and see what he thinks, I certianly dont want to develop some kind of eating disorder.. I just feel I have become obsessed with counting calories and losing weight after my 3rd and last child was born 2 years ago, But I am realising this diet is proberly not healthy and My husband has expressed how worried he is I am losing so much so I am glad I found this group to know I think I need help with this.. Thanks for your comments,

Victoria.

Yes, 900-1000 a day for maintenance IS too low. You are not hungry because you are used to it, and your stomach has shrunk accordingly. You want to go up in calories-BUT-you want to do it slowly. You can't go from 900 a day to say, 1500, for maintenance all at once-or you WILL see a gain. Try going from 900-1000 a day to 1000-1100 a day for the next 3 weeks. It is only adding 100 calories a day to your range. After about 3 weeks, your body should be used to that level.
After 3 weeks or so, go up 100 calories more a day to 1100-1200 a day. Do that for around 3-4 weeks as well.
1200 a day is usually a bare minimum a day to LOSE weight, not to maintain. If you are maintaining your weight on 900-1000 a day, then this means you are basically at a weight that isn't healthy to "maintain" for you-because you have to go to such drastic measures to do so.
Honestly, at your height, a size 0-2 is pretty darn small. I think it would probably be healthier for you maybe to try and maintain a size 2-4 instead???? My SIL is 5'2", and inch shorter than you-and she looked great in a 5/6!!!!

www.calorie-count.com is a good site for almost any food you can think of!

Thankyou so much for the Advice Aphil. I am going to try that, I acually have had 1050 calories today and will try to go up slowly from there.. I realy would like to fit into my size 2s and 4s again I have so many cute cloths I bought for 2/4 after losing weight and then I just keeped getting smaller and now they are too big, Hopfully I will get some of my Bust and hips back if I can get to 110-115 and maintain that I will be a happy girl

Thanks again for the help, I will let you know how slowly going up on my calories works out..

Victoria.

Hi Victoria...

Just want to encourage you to stay healthy! I am 5'1, and if I can even get to 110, I'll be happy! I think 115 would be a good weight for you...you will look healthy! Instead of eating more food, maybe try different foods that have a higher Calorie rating, so it doesn't seem like you're eating more, just different. Might help with the fear you have, and slowly work your way up. Maybe talk to your doctor, or see a dietician about what you should be eating, ideal weight, etc. They are really helpful!

Good luck to you!