driving myself CRAZY

ok, so i have lost a lot of weight since high school and i have reached my goal weight...but i just can't seem to stop dieting. i feel like it is just something i have to do. i do it without thinking and i am just so used to not eating a lot of calories and i fear that i am not eating enough. but when i look at my food log during the day i am satisfied and then at night i calculate my dinner and start to panic that i haven't eaten enough so i will go and eat a little more. ughhh i just think of eating and picture myself blowing back up to 160. here is what i ate today and maybe you can tell me what you think or if i need to improve.

breakfast: cup of grapes, coffee with coffee-mate(2 Tbsp 90 cal), 1/2 cup orange juice.

snack: apple

lunch: 1 1/4 cup cornflakes, dannon light and fit nonfat yogurt, a sprinkle of cranraisins

snack: fiber one bar

dinner: whole wheat 100 cal bread thins, skinless boneless chicken breast, tbsp ketchup. 1/2 cup carrots, 4 marinated mushrooms, some raw onion all in balsamic vinegar.

snack: Apple

then i log on and calculate my dinner and start to panic...so i will go and eat a little more even though i'm not hungry...

1 tangerine

1 cup corn flakes, non fat dannon yogurt, sprinkle cranraisins

now, the total i come up with 1200 calorie...and in the back of my mind i think..oh i probably ate more than that...that number isn't right.

this semester at school has been by far my most challenging and with work, school and studying i haven't really been able to go to the gym...so i try and eat super healthy to compensate until winter break when i can get back to the gym. it isn't like i don't get exercise because i am constantly moving. i work at a florist and don't sit down for 5 hours straight sometimes 9 and i go to school on a big campus where the classes are pretty far apart so that's a lot of walking. and most of the time while i am working or in class i am not even thinking about food and i go longer than i should without eating anything. (i eventually hear my stomach going crazy and run home to get something healthy to eat) i just don't know what to do and i could really use some advice. thanks = ]

I think you need to start planning ahead.  If you're tending to undereat then you have to deliberately plan a schedule of meals and snacks that meet your calorie target to maintain your weight.   Let's say that's 1900-2100 cals since that is a good working average for a reasonably active adult female average height.  Use the CC food log to map out tomorrow's food...... three square meals and snacks.  If you can see it's coming up short of the 2000 cals then increase the portions and add in more snacks.  Make up things like packed lunches the day before, take portable snacks with you to eat as you go, and have the ingredients for breakfasts and suppers ready and waiting for you when you get home.  Aim to have a meal or a snack every couple of hours.  If you tend not to think about food then even set an alarm on your mobile phone to remind you.... it's very, very important not to skip meals

Your current diet, as well as being too light in calories, is particularly low in iron and fats.  Iron deficiencies are particularly common in young women and can lead to all kinds of nasty medical problems.  Iron-rich foods include, wholegrain bread, dark green vegetables, red meats, beans, lentils, whole eggs....   Lack of fats in the diet means the body can't absorb many common vitamins and minerals.  If you carry on undereating, you risk malnutrition problems in the long term. Even if the foods you choose are 'super-healthy', if you don't eat enough that makes it an unhealthy diet.

Because you've been eating very little for a long time you should expect to gain back some of your lost weight initially because your metabolism will be very, very slow.  However, that should only be temporary and, as you eat more and as your metabolism speeds back up, your weight will stabilise.  Best of luck

I think you need deep breath and calm down :) you are doing well, already on the weight you want to be.

I am also on a healthy eating diet, I mean that I eat healthy all the time, around 1500 calories per day, my weight is 112 lbs and I feel good wuth this weight.

On the other hand when I go to a party or a special event I eat what I waant and how much I want, but this happens very rarely.

Probably you need to exercises 3-4 times per week and introduce one more big meal during the day, like some good source of protein - grilled chicken, or fish. Also have more vegetables, salads go together with meat.

Add two times per week legumes and 2 times per week nuts.

But you are doing very well and stop driving crazy yourself :)

Wish you nice body and good sleep :)