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It also depends on your BMI... The higher your BMI the more calories you can consume and safely lose weight. When I get weighed at the clinic the scale does a printout that says how many calories I can consume to MAINTAIN my current weight, which of course is not my goal. The nurse then recommends reducing that by at least 200-400. So, if my maintenance calories are 1467 I need to eat less than 1200 to lose. I try to eat 800 cals. per day. It's not easy and I may need a small defill.

Ok so I have a question. Has anyone been told by there doctor how many calories you should be getting a day? I've heard some people say 600-800. Which dosent seems like not much, especially if you havent hit your "sweet spot." Or is that for bandsters that were at a good fill level. What about us that are'nt so lucky yet? Do we just go by a standard amount? Also if you are only getting 600-800 calories a day how can you get all the protein you need? My doctor wants me to have at least 60g of protein and 25g of fiber a day.

Hi Cj, I was just banded 3 days ago and feel great. It is very odd to eat like 800 calories and not be hungry. when i went in I told the surgeon "my stomach has been in charge for 42 years now it's my turn" I was so nervous wondering if i was doing the right thing and then thought" i have never managed to lose weight and keep it off" and even if i did there is only like 5% chance of not gaining it back. so i decided to improve my odds. It wasnt that bad the worst part is when you first wake up. I felt sick to my stomach and had very bad right shoulder pain. i was hooked up to a morphone pump and then life was good. haha. I am walking around doing housework 3 days post op and other than feeling kind of week and my tummy itching like crazy i feel great. I keep telling myself that this is what i wanted for so long. I cooked supper last night for my dh and it was very hard not to pop something into my mouth but i went in the livingroom and drank my milk shake. Take it one day at a time. Its doo able. New beginnings. I finally got mine

See a dietitian. Follow your dietitian's instructions. Food journal, watch portions, stick to calorie limits, avoid processed foods. Exercise. Work really really hard to change your lifestyle and eating habits. Find some support. An accountability buddy. A support group. Therapy if needed. Take it a day at a time. Never give up:)

You are not getting enough calories and I doubt you are getting enough Protein. That is crazy only eating 600 calories a day!! Even 800 calories is too low. You should discuss without your doctor/nutritionist, but you should be shooting for closer to 1000-1200 calories a day (at least) and at least 70 grams of protein, and drinking 64 ounces of Water daily.

Veronica - Hugs for your stuggles - Sound like you have restriction.. If you really want this to work then you have to be prepared to do the work cuz girlfriend the real work is up to you.. Being full w/the band is a different sensation that pre band - well at least it is for me - I will be physically full (eat 4 oz of Protein - then sit and think about your pouch ) I bet you 10 to 1 you will be full - Are you following the rules and eating pt 1st.. How much do you eat - what are you eating - are you exercising?? Go back to the basics - do the 5 day pouch test (google it) then when you move back to regular food - make sure you keep a food diary – track your pt – calories and exercise - keep your calories between 900-1200 and vary them daily and get minimum 4 days of exercise.. Besty - I really feel that WLS is advertised to be the fix all to our fatness - that it's the answer - when it's only a tool - to help us lose the weight - I feel that so many pple think that the surgery is going to do the majority of the work for them - so you aren't along in that presumption IMHO I have done 75% of the work by changing my eating and exercise habits and the band did 25% with it's restriction For me my band doesn't take away my hunger - ya it keeps me full on a smaller amount of food (as long as I follow the rules and always eat hard protein 1st) - but that doesn't stop my brain from wanting more food- it doesn't stop me from craving sugar and fried foods and I can eat all the candy in the world and the band isn't going to stop me.. If I chose to - I could eat around my band 24/7 and I am at my sweet spot - so truly yes restriction helps but it's more about your food choices - I eat healthy 98% of the time and allow for indulgances 2% The band is about restriction yes - but it's also about making the commitment to eat healthy and exercise - You got banded to lose the weight to become healthy - well being healthy is more than being able to eat 1 cup of food per meal.. It's about what you are eating and what kind of exercise you are doing - Peeps losing weight is simple math - consume less calorie (not by restriction alone but by combining it with healthy food choices) and burn more calories by exercising.. What worked for me - Follow the rules - No drinking w/meal - 60 grm of pt a day - low fat - sugar free - limited starches - tiny bites - eat slowly - chew - Always eat pt first then follow w/veggies and if any room have a starch.. Exercise 4 days a week

Personally I tend to stall in weight loss if I stay that low, if I eat higher good calories I tend to drop steadily.

I've only been banded since 10 Dec and am due at the doctor's on Monday 15th for my first fill. I'm not sure what is going on, but I've been feeling less and less hungry over the last week. My post-op regime was supposed to 4 days on Clear liquids, 7-10 days on thick liquids, 1-2 weeks on mushies, and then back to normal eating, with the transition times being up to me and dependent upon how well I tolerated food. I was very good for the first 10 days, sticking exactly to the routine, but found by Day 10 I was absolutely ravenous. I made a big error in judgement on Day 10, and broke down and ate 4 breaded/fried half chicken wings Yes, yes, I know I was only supposed to be going into the mushy stage at the time and chicken wings aren't mushy!! Mind you, I did chew them to mush and beyond. Anyway, I've already been spanked severely for that on these boards when I confessed at the time, so please don't do that again. I need your advice on a different matter now... Over the mushy stage, I was pretty good although a couple of things were probably more "soft food" rather than truly mushy. Stuck to the calorie requirement well (in fact way below). About the only thing I did wrong was that I tended to push the 1 cup limit a little on the evening meal. I would get towards the end of the bowl and know that I was full and should stop but couldn't resist the taste and couldn't bear to throw the food out, so would just take it really really slowly and finish it all. At the end, I would feel uncomfortably full for quite a while, but never PB'd or anything. I can tolerate just about any type of food and am satisfied for hours on 1 cup. Anyway, now I am finding that I am feeling less and less hungry as the days go by and am starting to feel slightly nauseous all the time. I'm starting to get worried that the early chicken wings and the eating beyond the point of hunger have caused problems, possibly slippage or stretching the pouch. My port is in an awkward place (right on my waist line) and my work pants press against it uncomfortably when I sit. It also presses against my desk and over the last week, I have noticed it is starting to look a little bruised behind the scar, when it had been well-healed before I returned to work last week. I've been finding it harder to finish my evening meal Could the bruising be causing swelling, which is why I am not so hungry? Should I tell the doctor not to worry about the fill? I don't know how much I have lost in the last week, as I am not able to get near a scale till I get home from the mine site tomorrow night, but I don't think it has been a great deal. Typical day's eating: Breakfast - 1 poached egg, 1 muffin (no butter or fat) lunch - Optifast dinner - 2oz meat, 1/4 potato, 1 tbsp Beans, 1tbsp peas (or carrots, corn, broccholi, etc), 1tpbs gravy. 2-3 cups coffee with skim milk (not drunk with meals) Total: @ 700 cal I don't think I should be trying to eat much less than this, so don't think I need a fill, but am worried about why that is...

Welcome...congratulations on being banded!! To answer your questions... What got me thru the liquid diet was that I was scared to death to do anything wrong which would prevent me from having a perfect surgery. My dr was very specific about all the reasons I needed to commit to the liquid diet...and I figured if I couldn't do it right I wasn't 100% committed to the journey. So I had a perfect pre op diet, a 22 lbs loss and a successful surgery. I prepare food for my family the way I always did. I don't make 2 meals. Pre and post op obviously i couldnt eat what they ate but after that On the rare occasions that I couldn't eat what they did... I just modified my choices. The biggest challenge ....hmmm I suppose just learning what I could and couldn't eat, how to manage when I all of a sudden woke up and realized I needed a fill and learning to track my portions and count every calorie. But honestly I didn't find it overly difficult. I was so focused and followed my plan to a T that it came easier than I expected. Best wishes for your success!

Some doctors require a pre-op diet. Mine was supposed to be 650 calories with at least 70 g Protein, less than 60 g carbs & around 15 g of fat per day for 2 weeks before surgery. Different doctors have different plans & some don't have any pre-op plan. Depending on what your calories are now, I'd suggest lowering your calories somewhat and trying to eat healthier (increase protein) before surgery. Even if your surgeon doesn't have a pre-op diet, it can't hurt to do one. I've seen many people here that have done their own all-liquid or limited pre-op diet even though they weren't required to do one. Good luck on your journey! I'm almost 5 weeks out now & couldn't be happier with my decision!

Is there a way to show a calorie count on there?

I am completely with you on the loosening band bit. I had my second fill on September 21st bringing me to 5.5. in a 10cc band. I had amazing restriction, actually wondered if I was at my sweet spot. I couldn't eat in the morning, eating about 1000 calories a day with no real hunger (some head hunger). Now, almost three weeks out I don't feel like I have that same level of restriction. I can eat toast in the morning again and am hungry within about two hours. I think I'm going to call again today and see if I can get in for a fill on Monday.

Thank you all so much for the advice. I've been so focused on calories and low fat and I do avoid breads and potatoes, I didn't realize how many carbs I have been eating. I HATE protein shakes so I've got to find another solution but now I will keep better track of the carbs too.

How much more do you have to lose? The closer you get to goal the harder it is. I agree with Kabooboo, your carbs look really high. Myfitnesspal is the way to go. It will track all your carbs and you will be surprised how many you are eating. I would suggest using that and cut back on the carbs. How many calories are you getting a day?

Not everyone will experience Telogen Effluvium, but *ANY* shock to your system, even a fever can trigger it. Biotin won't stop it, but it *might* help limit the appearance caused by the fall out. The shock of surgery, drastically reduced calories, protein, etc will cause more hair follicles than normal to enter their rest phase, Telogen. So it's not that your hair is falling out exactly, it's that a larger number of follicles have entered the rest phase than would normally do so, and with the larger quantity doing so at about the same time, it gives the appearance of thinning hair/hair loss. It does go away. By all means take the Biotin (I do) and make sure your protein levels are where they need to be at (as well as your water) and you can hope it doesn't effect you much. But hope is really all you've got. You can use rogain as well, but this won't stop the Telogen phase, it just assists in the regrowth. Nothing out on the market now, will prevent Telogen Effluvium, they only helps reduce it's appearance /effect.

i agree myfitness pal is the best thing to help track. you can over eat calories on mushies measure everything out. I was 4 week post op until i felt hungry so transition was not hard. I still don’t have restriction yet 8 weeks out so my challenge is pushing away and to stop myself . i did plateau a bit when i went to mushies and then solids but exercise helped me over the plateau.

I am joining the 2 of you on Feb. 26th. Similar feelings.. Do you have to do full liquids for 2 weeks? I have to do 3 protein shakes and a proportioned dinner or make sure I'm 800-1,000 calories/day. I'm very nervous about complications but hoping I will be lucky. I usually get ill from general anesthesia and also have little tolerance for Dilaudid. I vomit violently from both. My surgeon knows this. Says he still may want t.o try dilaudid with zofran or Toridol (sp). I don't understand why Toridol would be considered as it is a powerful NSAID? I really don't want dilaudid due to my violent reaction 3 years ago and even when they gave me zofran the vomiting didn't stop for hours. Any advice plz? I wish you both the very best!

Vines, Your right....soo right. I shouldnt feel guilty and your right, nights like last night dont happen often enough. I think I felt guilty because I am sorta stuck at not loosing anything and not really exercising much...I have 40 pounds to go to goal, and I wanna hit goal by my bandaversary. I just dont wanna screw this up. My father has given me sooo much encouragement and I really wanna do well with this for him and my self... I was drinking toasted almonds...NOT made with skim milk....geeezzz. Your right....guilt is a useless emotion..And as far as the food was concerned at the birthday party, I thought about it today, I really didnt do too much damage there. I had meat balls, chicken piccada, and potato chips ... I ate like six sweedish style meatballs in tomato sause with a roll......a chicken fillet...and a lot of chips. they go down so easy. Nothing got stuck. I didn't PB anything back up...I didn't drink with my meals....I didn't have any veggies, but so what....A small slice of birthday cake.....like three inches by three inches, but it had cannoli filling in the middle of it and whip cream icing.....Then when I got to the bar, I had four drinks I think.....I just started adding things up and thats what made me feel guilty....Well, I had to shovel out today so I guess that burned up the excess calories... I didnt do too bad today. I really havnt been in the mood to eat today. I drank a protein shake for breakfast, hadda yogurt for lunch...and some coffee...Im planning on having another shake here soon. That damn stress seems to find me no matter where I try and hide Tomorrow will be better....I will be back into my routine....and then Thursday life will be back to normal. We go to court for custody on Wednesday. I dont have any doubt as to what the outcome is going to be, Im just not looking forward to being in court. Its what I have to do though. Okay...Thanks for listening to me babble....I do appreciate all the support I get here. Have a great night everyone~

According to my surgeon there are NO forbidden foods with the band. Personally, I would not want to "waste" 150 calories on some processed crappy packaged food. If I really want to have something sweet, I would rather have a small portion of a "real" dessert, such as a couple of bites of homemade applecrisp, or a few bites of real chocolate mousse. I think I shall start a movement called "real food for real people" lol Anyone want to join me ?

See if you can get back in to your dietician & with their guidance develop an eating plan that is sustainable in the long term. It’s best to design a way of eating that works for you & not for someone else. You’re physiologically & psychologically different to everyone else. You may find you don’t follow a specific ‘diet’ but pick & choose across a few eating styles. Like low carb but not low fat or incorporate some vegan or vegetarian meals each week. In the meantime, & as a starting point, keep in mind the recommended daily amounts for the ‘average’ person who’s maintaining like 6 teaspoons or 25g added sugar per day for women. You will need to consume less if you still want to lose. Take into account your plan, lifestyle & personal needs. How many calories are you eating a day? It seems like it could be low if you’re still on shakes. It’s not sustainable to be still having shakes for breakfast & most lunches. You need to be eating real food, especially as you seem to be almost at your goal weight, to get the nutrients your body needs. I stopped taking multivitamins from maintenance because I got all I needed from the food I ate. I was so happy not to have to take them or buy them! I don’t buy a lot of prepared foods, sauces, condiments, etc. simply so I can control the ingredients & how they’re prepared/cooked. If I do, I study the nutrition panel & look for low processed foods, low sugar content, low fat content, multi & whole grains, no or low artificial sweeteners, Watch the ‘front of the jar’ labelling though. No added sugar usually means they’ve used artificial sweeteners or sugar alternatives or they’ve upped the fat. I bought a 25% less fat ‘lite’ peanut paste. It actually had 50% more carbs, 20% more sugar & only 16 calories less per serve.

yes!!! I don't 'eat' all of mine either..i do love tuna though... however, i found MUSCLE MILK LIGHT...it's 100 calories, NO SUGAR, and 15g of Protein. I usually have one in the morning and sometimes in the evening... Once in awhile i will have a Protein Bar if i need something quick and small...but the ones i like are not low in calories....they taste like a fricken Reece's PB cup...yeah...lol they're called Supreme Protein Bars and they come in 2 sizes...200cal for 15g protein, or 30g protein for 400....if i haven't eaten a lot of calories by the end of the day i'll have one..but they're REALLY good and i will totally overindulge so i usually only buy the small ones...

Possibly up your protein or consider maybe a 1/4cc fill just to take edge off. I remember feeling that way and I drank more crystal light and other zero calorie beverages. If it is not head hunger and you ate actually feeling hungry, you may not be in your green zone.

You need another fill. I am too tight right now, and am not getting enough calories, but I am not hungry, just unsatisfied.

I know a lot of people do eat it, some will say in moderation and some doctor's and nutritionists will say NO..never eat it. I am sure some day, I will have a little bit, but I don't imagine doing it for a while. I'm at 8 weeks and struggling with Protein. I just got pleurisy again (Lupus related) and it's hard to breath let alone eat or dink. I had my first real salad today, ate less than 1/2 of it (mostly picked out some of the meat). The lettuce was rough going down. I guess it depends on how far out you are. It is a slider food, you eat it and you can eat so much of it (pre-surgery for my "forespecial" day out I ate the Largest Jumbo bag of Popcorn at the movies...all by myself, yeah I put butter on it too. That equals 910-1220 calories and 71-97 grams of fat. I lucked out and didn't gain weight because I was careful for 2 weeks prior to this and was on a stall and it kicked me out of a stall. Good luck, popcorn is something I love, but I don't think it's a good idea just out from surgery because the kernels could be harmful to your stomach and there's not much of a nutritional value to them, if you are going to try some make sure you are healed.

Congrats on getting banded. I lived on SF popsciles. I love Edy's fruit ones. The calories are a little higher but the taste is great. I still have them daily. Like someone said, have another protein shake. They fill you up or call your dietitian for advise because each doctor has their own rules.