I'm usually 16-1800 calories these days, which is actually a bit less than when I was away, but at the moment, I'm not swimming daily. I really miss the beach at the end of the garden, and the ability to just stroll down for 10 minutes. (Sigh)
I agree with those counselling care in going too low. Starvation mode isn't pleasant and counter productive, both short and longer term. I use myfitnesspal to record my foods (still, every day). these days it takes moments. I don't snack, so only have 3 entries a day, as I tend to ignore tea and coffee, even though they will include milk. I like having the info to hand, should I need to refer back if I have "odd" bloods.
As someone who can become obsessive (Who? Moi?), I quickly formulated a strategy for using mfp, which made it a tool, rather than a rule. I made myself just log, without taking note of the running total, with a quick squint after I logged my last food, to see what it looked like. That way, I couldn't be driven by either "500 calories/x carbs left today, so what can I eat, even if I'm not peckish", or "whoooooaaaa,........... I'm going a bit overboard today. Lettuce leaves for dinner tonight!". That also helped in my inclusive approach, when socialising. I didn't get those auto-guilt feelings that sometimes drive us off the rails. You know, "If I have those canapes, I might as well have x, y or z as well, as I'll have blown it for the day".
Most Sundays I have an admin session, when I sort out household bills, plan the forthcoming week, and look back on the previous week, which, in my trimming days also included a review of my food and bloods. I am a bit of a data geek, so it all plays into my hands. That has allowed me to work on trends and averages, rather than micro-management.
One thing I don't do in mfp is log my exercise. For some reason I never have. I wouldn't want to add back exercise calories. Unless I was labouring very heavily, I would find that mentally counter-productive. I know. I'm odd, but somehow I seem to have muddled together something that works,.................. so far!
Don't be too hard on yourself.