Hello Everyone,

I am 12 days post op and am averaging about 500 - 600 calories per day. I am feeling a little weak at this point, but I am more concerned with the long term effects of such restricted calories. I don't want to mess up my metabolism any worse than it already is. I'd like to know when it is appropriate to add more calories in. I started full liquids today. Can you tell me how the progression of increased calories goes?

Thanks,

Lorna

At 12 days out you're doing just fine. Focus on protein and fluids. You will lose and heal in time

I'm 22 days out and I'm at 350-400 calories and I'm on full liquids. AT 12 days out I would definitely not be going higher in calories. I'm just trying to work my way up to 80 grams of Protein a day and I'm not there and that is perfect fine. I take my four optisure Vitamins a day so I am getting all my vitamins and minerals. My sleeve is healing nicely because I'm not forcing in too much at this time, but I am getting all 64 ounces of Water in.

In my pre-approval phase, before I was sleeved for 6 months I was at 800-850 calories and that was with my full stomach pre-sleeve. 800-900 is the max of what you should be doing before you hit the maintenance phase after being sleeved and that's like a few months out, not weeks. Of course if you are extremely athletic, you would be able to incorporate more calories and carbohydrates. 1000-1200 is usually maintenance, again unless you are extremely athletic.

You definitely are NOT going to slow your metabolism at 600 calories a day during the first month or so with the new sleeve. All you will be doing is giving your sleeve time to heal and maybe 600 is not too much at 12 days, but that's what my two week pre-op shake was....again with a full stomach and not an 85% reduction.

I would definitely speak with your nutritionist and get their opinion.

Edited to add, you are not going to slow your metabolism down, your body will process all your carbs first for energy to sit, stand, move, walk, breath, etc. after it is done processing your carbs it then moves on to the fat, this is how you lose you weight. My surgeon assured me that I have enough protein stores that even if I am only getting 40 grams of protein to begin with, that I have enough fat and protein stores for quite some time before it starts working on muscles.

Go slow and talk to your doctor. Each phase up isn't meant to go from 600 - 800 - 1000 - 1200 calories, each one is to learn to convert the liquid to a form a protein while only increasing the calories a little bit. It's not as much about the calories as it is the quality of the food for our bodies to be run efficiently and be healthy.