I just had my one month post-op visits and I am down about 30 pounds including the one week Pre-op diet. I told the dietician I was frustrated with it being only about 9 pounds lower in the last 3 weeks. I showed her myfitnesspal history on my phone and she said that I am way under on carbs and calories. I explained that I am always getting in my Protein, but no where in my books did it guide me as far as carbs and calories. She said they intentionally do that to not overwhelm people with counting things, but that if I am using myfitnesspal then I am ready. She said to aim for 1000-1200 calories and 150 to 164 in carbs.

Wow!!! I looked back and was so low every day. She explained that if I don't give my body the carbs and calories to use for energy that it will go to my protein store. In the end I will be losing muscle and storing fat. Good old starvation mode. I was so surprised that I was that far off so I thought I'd share.

I'll let everyone know of the increases make a positive impact on my weight loss. Either way I am happy with being out of the 300's and will Celebrate that!!!

-Kimi

I think that however many carbs you can eat that will not inhibit your loss is exactly how many you need. Everyone's body is different - and what works for you might not work for me or someone else.

So track as you increase and if you notice a problem, adjust. It's that easy.

I was diabetic prior to surgery and in the first few months kept on avoiding carbs. It was what I thought I had to do. I was barely consuming 400 calories and 40 grams of carbs a day.

My blood sugars were awesome and normal for the first time in forever. But I was also tired, sluggish, moody and felt deprived and resentful because of my strict diet.

Once I started really tracking everything I was eating I found I could eat 700-900 calories a day (anything above 1000 in loss phase and I had trouble losing) and around 60-90 grams of carbs a day - a combination of grains, fruits and veggies. I kept aiming for 90+ grams of Protein daily. For me, this more balanced approached worked wonderfully. I felt better and ditched the diet mentality that had me sniping at my husband all day long. I get cranky when I'm hungry.

This allowed me the control to work on real moderation and overcoming my personal food demons. I encourage everyone to do this. I think many of us get caught on the numbers that our NUT gives us or on numbers we see other people eat. Track, track, track and see what your body can handle and go with that. Because this is your individual journey and you need to make it to goal AND be able to maintain once you get there.

There are folks that can eat 1,500 calories a day and lose weight. I can't. There are folks that have to limit their carbs or they can't lose. It's all too individual for anyone to really be able to advise you on anything except what worked for them.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll do fine. If you pay attention to what your body does best on, that's what works for you. And ultimately, that's all that matters.

~Cheri

Great advice!

Really good advice Cheri

I asked the nut as soon as I advanced to softs how many carbs I should shoot for on 800 calories. I told her that at anything under 20, my brain shut down. She told me 50 was acceptable on 800 calories. I told her I felt more comfortable around 30 at that point. I am now at 13 weeks and at about 1000 calories. I have let up on myself with regard to carbs because I just cannot eat very much anyway and I am losing about 2.5 pounds per week. I have lost 30% of my excess weight and that puts me right on target. I am trying not to obsess and restrict myself to the point that I stress myself out. Some days I have 30, others I have 50. I am trying to be as normal an eater as possible.