I was told to stay between 600-800 calories per day. I usually end up around 500, I'm only 4 weeks post op....I'm sure I won't have trouble hitting the mark when I get on solids. Do I have to reach my calorie goal daily? Is it hurting me by being under? I reach my protein & water goal daily.

My doctor and nutritionist said not to worry about calorie intake for the first year. They said, and I have found to be true, that there's no way I can ingest enough calories in a day to gain.

If you don't get enough calories, however, your body could go into starvation mode, and you could stall out.

Try to get at least 600 calories for the above reason; you may have enough body "fat" to function, but you still need calories as well. I found in the beginning of I was running to short, I'ld just sip on a glass of skim milk at the end of the day or make another shake if I could stand the thought of it! It is important to get the minimum of calories in so that you have some energy to get through your day- you'll still lose! Just be sure to get vitamins, protein and fluids in each day to avoid any complications. On Feb. 11th I had my 4 month surger-versary and can tell you that some days I can eat more than 600 calories and on others, if I'm busy and not focusing on my meals, I'll eat a lot less. The hunger isn't there (at least not half as strong as it was pre-op) so the preoccupation with food lessons more and more. Feeling healthy, for me, is just as important as the scale moving lower and my clothes getting looser! So be sure to give your body all the fuel it needs to do what it needs to do; lose the extra weight and make you a healthier you! Good luck!

Just do what you can do and don't stress on it..... You will soon enough.....600 is just a # to reach for.....take your supplements, drink as much water as you can and sit back and enjoy the ride.....