I've had a few people comment over time that they are amazed at how little I eat. I seem to eat about 1500-1600 calories per day. I may have conveyed my misconception that that is low, but I recently read in Dr. Fuhrman's Eat for Health book that 1600 is the average amount for a woman. So that confirms that I don't eat too little. I'm not surprised that I would eat an average amount. I'm taller than average which would make me burn more, but I'm older than average (49) and have definitely noticed the downturn of metabolism. So I think those things average out. I'm more active than average for a few hours a day but then most of the day I am probably less active than average since I work from home, so that probably averages out too.
Another thought I had: Sometimes I wonder if I'm too extreme eating this way. In a week I'm going to a weekend event with some friends and I'm going to bring my cooler with my food and they are going to think I'm weird. That is going to make me wonder if I'm weird. Do I have an eating disorder? It can appear that way because when you go against the grain of society, you have to put more effort into it and it can appear obsessive. And maybe it is. But the other side of the coin is that I am at my ideal weight, and I look and feel great. My skin has color and vibrancy while every one else around me is grey (we have long winters in Wisconsin). Talk about an ego boost. Today I put on my hiking clothes--we are taking the day off to go hiking--and it is so fun to look at myself in the mirror and say, yeah, looks good! And to feel great. We're in high allergy season now and I'm not affected. I used to have seasonal allergies like every one else. I have no symptoms! I'm going to hike up the cliffs at Devil's Lake and will hardly be breathing hard. At the gym, my muscles give out before my cardiovascular system (i.e., I don't get out of breath much). I am in optimum health. Is that obsessive? When you are different from everyone else, it's almost by definition obsessive. But is it unhealthy? I don't think so. So I encourage you to try to be as crazy and weird as me because the benefits are amazing. And I admit a huge one is pure vanity and ego!