I had my band put in 2 years ago and lost 20kg. I am now at a stand still and have decided to try the Michelle bridges 12 week body challenge for a kick start to my next phase.

The program says I should only be having 1200 calories a day, yet I have downloaded the calorie king app and it tells me I should be having 1600 calories a day.

I don't normally count calories I just stop when I'm full.

Can anyone suggest how many I should actually be having?

I don't think there is one number for everyone. I was told 1000 or under, my brother was told 1600 by the same doctor and dietitian. I think it is based on your size, your goals and your activity level.

different people, different goal weights, different docs, different days ! we are all so unique.

I use "Lose It " to track and love it.They give daily, weekly and monthly summaries so you can easily see your nutrient intake. I find it particularly useful to make sure I get 60 gms protein pewr day.

I use my fitness pal.

Thanks for your responses. I guess I will use the calorie king program as it is based on my weight size goals etc where as the 12 week body program is 1200 for everyone.

I'll still follow the recipes and exercises though.

My Fitness Pal asks you to state what rate of weight loss you would like to achieve, and then, based on your level of exercise tells you how many calories you should have to reach your goal.

I definitely believe that calorie allowance are a wide range, and driven by your gender. Men definitely have a more efficient metabolism.

I don't count calories, my surgeon has advised against it saying it is not necessary if you make good choices with your foods. I thought the number of calories they specified for me was too high.

Other's mileage may vary...

I made 2 decisions when I decided to do lap band .

#1 I WOULD NEVER COUNT CALORIES AGAIN.

#2 I WOULD NEVER SPEND A DIME MORE ON ANY DIET GIMMICK, NO Patches, NO pills, NO EXCERCISE EQUIPMENT . NO DIET books, NO MIRACLE ANYTHING.

Having said that I decided for the first time in my life to eat what I was told {Protein first} and I would eat it in the quanity I was suppose too . {Up to one cup 3 times a day} And I would haul my a$$ around the neighborhood in a fast walk at least 5 days a week. I have lost all the weight, I feel great and I look a darn sight better then I did as that diet chasing and fad crazy woman always looking for the answers .

I had to rid myself of all my theorys ,calorie counting and worries and listen to what the experts said and it worked for me. And it was so much easier to just eat when I was hungry take my Vitamins and stop when I was suppose to. I am so much happier and free .

It would be easier to advise you if you filled out your profile? Height ,weight, male or female, amount of exercise/day and age will factor into your caloric intake? Sojourner and Maya are right on imo. I don't really count every day but if I look at what I've eaten most days it's somewhere between 1400-1800/day. I mostly shoot for satiety with Protein first and veggies 2nd.

Some people here average 800 a day and others like me, average 1600/day.

tmf