do I have an eating disorder?

I know that most of you are here because you are struggling with weight loss, so to hear me whine is probably not on your agenda.  I just need to rant and if you feel like listening I appreciate it!

I have never had to watch my figure.  I'm 5'6" and I weighed about 110 as a teenager, and slowly made my way up to about 140 today.  I am now 31, have three kids and I look like I'm in great shape - but I'm not.  I have horrible eating habits, horrible sleeping habits, am fairly sedentary, and I have no muscle tone anywhere on my body.  My doctor said I needed to be put on antidepressants, but I decided to take control of my life and try to fix things without medication.

I started my "diet" about three weeks ago.  I have cut out sugary convenience foods like cookies and white bread, cut out my gallon of sweet tea a day habit, cut out chips and ice cream and other JUNK.  The problem is - that's about all I was eating!  I'm not a big eater - I just eat junk all day.  I don't eat much meat and I'm a very picky eater.  Now that I'm tracking my calories, I find it nearly impossible to even eat 1000 calories a day.  I'm craving the carbs, but I'm not hungry.  If I'm not eating junk, I'm not eating anything.  I think my will power is maybe too strong, because I feel like I have to try to eat as few calories as I can.

I've started running - I'm up to about two miles a day.  I actually feel pretty good, but I know this isn't healthy.  I can see my ab muscles again, but I look so tired and drained.  My goal here was to get healthy - but I'm afraid I may be doing more harm than good!  Any advice for me?

It's really true that you can be addicted to carbs. I was addicted to carbs for a long time, because that's what my parents brought me up on.. bagels, pasta, bread, sweets, junk snacks, and meat. Oh, with some peas on the side.

I think it's great that you've decided to cut out all that bad stuff, or at least lessen it (you don't have to cut it out completely). But you've gone at it slightly backwards, because you have to INTRODUCE healthy foods into your diet before you can stop eating what you were before. Else you aren't eating anything at all, which is what you are describing. =P

It takes a LONG time to form new hbbits. 3 weeks isn't all that long in the course of your life is it? My suggestion would be to hang around these forums to get a sense of what everyone else is eating. There are lots of meal threads, favorite food threads, "What did you eat today?" etc. And definitely make yourself at least the 1200 per day.. you aren't doing yourself any favors if you don't. You will probably just make yourself more likely to grab that junk food because you're starving.

It doesn't sound like an eating disorder; it just sounds like you need to go grocery shopping! If you're craving carbs, have an apple or banana instead. You'll have to force yourself to eat at least over 1200 calories.
Buy some egg whites, spinach, mushrooms, and low fat cheese - yummy, filling, low calorie omelette right there! Buy some whole wheat bread. You can toast that and put tomato and/or cheese slices on it. Add those together, and that's a really great breakfast for around 300 calories. =)
Tuna is also a great, healthy protein.

Now! If the thought of eating those things frightens you... then yes, that is abnormal and you should be further evaluated. =) Take care!

There's nothing wrong with carbs even though the recent trends have been against them.  Especially if you're running; you should never deprive your body of carbs.  The above food suggestions are cute, but you fail to recognize that apples and other high fructose produce are mostly carb based http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/item/9003.ht ml

I really don't think you have an eating disorder but I do think that you need carbs. I don't buy into those crap diets about no carbs, personally I have tried them and it makes me sick....literally. I think if you are an avid runner you really need the carbs, they give you energy. I am doing a 1000 calorie a day diet, so personally I don't think the little calories are an issue. Just make sure and keep it healty.