New, already a cronie, I just never knew it

[Guest guest]

For over a year now I have seriously restricted my caloric intake,

because I knew that Americans in general eat WAY too much. I had

heard that eating less calories could increase your health and even

lifespan, but only until I read an article in the New York Times and

s Hopkins University Magazine did I really start to believe it.

Eating less than 1500 calories a day is relatively easy for me

already. I now need to focus on getting the right vitamins and

protein.

I am 5'7 " and 120 lbs. One year ago, I weight 158 pounds. I have

never been overweight, but I wanted to lose ten pounds, and so I

did. I cut calories and exercised more. A big thing that helped me

was to completely cut sugar out of my diet (White refined sugar) for

about 6 months. Sugar slowly crept back in and started to take

over, and I feared I would not only gain weight back but that I

would be ingesting huge amounts of sugar. I seemed to (And

sometimes still do) have uncontrollable sugar binges. As I move

further from sugar, I tend to binge on things like bran flakes,

raisin bran, and pita bread with hummus. There are worse things to

binge on, right?

My worst binges do not exceed 2500 cal. in one day. I say this

proudly, because many Americans, as you surely know, eat at least

2500 cal. a day and don't think about it.

Many of my friends, some doctors, two nutritionists and many family

members say I am " too thin " . But, at 120 lbs and my height, my BMI

is, to me, perfect. My heart rate when I really push myself is now

160 tops, whereas a year ago it was 200, sometimes even 210 after

climbing a flight of stairs.

I feel like many people who say I am " too thin " or " not eating

enough " don't understand that, sadly, the American population as a

whole is grossly unhealthy and overweight. What many doctors and

people think is " normal " or " healthy " weight is really not. I can't

imagine that being on the higher end of a healthy weight range is

better than being on the lower end.

In any case, I am glad to have found a group that considers calorie

reduction not only healthy but a way of life.

I have a quick question:

As a 22 year old, 5'7 " woman, how many calories should I be eating a

day? My guess is, before being a CR, about a year ago, I probably

ate at least 2200-2500 a day. Is there a way to maintain your

current weight while on CR? ( I dont want to lose or gain). Any

feedback on this would be awesome.