hi

I would love to hear more experienced sleevers opinion on the following.

Today I visited my physician for monthly vit D injection as I am always low.

We discussed the calorie issue.I told him I make around 800 as a rule and he said it doesnt have to be like that.He said if you look at the fast weight loss you will see it only ever happens directly after the surgery.That after that it average out to about 3 and sometimes 4 pounds a week.Normal people on 1500 calories with exercise should and does often lose 3 pounds a week CONSISTENTLY,in his opinion.

He wants me to up my calories to at least 1000, and I am not exercising regularly due to a hip issue.I play squash twice a week though.He says as I exercise more he would want me to eat at least 1200 calories per day.I must drink a shake of at least 50g of protein which will allow me to eat more veggies for fibre with more protein.

What do you think about this?It does make sense in a way even though it is contradictory to what most other dr's say.My surgeon doesnt give guidelines with calories.Just to eat protein first then veg then carbs and to eat 3 meals and 2 snacks.

I am 5'8 and weighs 256.

Please help.

xxo

I would say you could at least follow it a few months to see...I think I do better when I am on the higher range of my calories. Even if I don't lose as much weight I feel better and have a better outlook.

Good idea about the protien, I have been toying with that myself. Natural fiber, it seems, is much better than any supplement.

I really seem to be doing well (mentally - feeling sharp and alert and sleeping better) since I began to stick to my "5 best foods"

blueberries

walnuts

EVOO or another good fat source

either a spoonful on tambiko, or salmon, or talapia...often made with the evoo.

Prune, or apple peel, or squash - and just maybe a little oatmeal. REAL oatmeal, lol!!!!

Smaller amounts but nearer real suggested amounts.

also if I can:

pumpkin

sunflower seeds

hummus

cauliflour

just soooo much stuff now that I seem to enjoy on a different level, it is like my body knows to enjoy it.

Hi, upping my calories worked for me. Everybody is different.

What do you think about this?It does make sense in a way even though it is contradictory to what most other dr's say.My surgeon doesnt give guidelines with calories.Just to eat protein first then veg then carbs and to eat 3 meals and 2 snacks.

I am 5'8 and weighs 256.

Please help.

xxo

If you do the highlighted, you will lose weight. Promise.

This is far more simple than we give the sleeve credit for! SOLID protein first, everything else second. And yes IF you workout, your body needs more fuel. I always add an extra protein shake immediately after my morning workout.

I did it! You will too.

I upped to 1000 and lost 4 pounds in a week. I Try to make it more protein and veggies though and stay at 60 carbs. I just started last week though.

I think it really matters more what is making up your calories, when you eat it, if you drink enough fluids, and get enough exercise/activity. It's not just as simple as calories in vs. calories out because the body burns food sources differently. Sticking to higher protein definitely works best for me, watching the carbs, getting enough fiber, and only healthy fats.

I thought my doctor's "diet plan" was insane when it told me to stick to 600 calories or less for the first 6 months. The more I poked and prodded, the more I realized his plan was truly based on most of his patients being severely obese, old, or have physical limitations. When you're younger and more active, 600 calories is damaging to the body for long periods of time. I noticed I had very low energy when I hit month 2 and it was largely because I was hitting the gym, walking, biking, weight training, etc. 5-6 days per week for an hour or more. Once I bumped up to about 800 calories, I felt much better and the stalls are fewer and not as long. The funny thing is that I still struggle to hit 700 most days as I am rarely ever hungry. And cravings are very few and happen mostly when I'm emotional.

Most people burn about 1000-1200 calories just going about a normal day in a sedentary lifestyle (desk work, etc.) That increases by 300-800 calories the more active your job/day may be (contractor, landscaper, etc.) It takes 3500 calories to burn a pound of fat. Considering most of us in the first 6 months are rarely burning more than 300 calories with exercise, do the math. Add to all that the metabolic changes we go through monthly with menstrual cycles and age.... it's really a crap shoot to figure out what will work for one person much less all of us.

I say experiment, see what happens. This is a permanent change for the rest of our lives, so I don't see a rush to get it perfect right out of the gate. So long as you're not going UP in weight in any drastic way, then you're good