I cannot believe what I'm doing...don't I get it?

[Takingcontrol 467]

You can not physically eat more than 500-600 calories, your tummy is the size of a banana and at best in the beginning can only hold 2 ounces at at time. Doesn't sound to me like you did research before you had your sleeve surgery. Tell us how you will be consuming 1200 calories when you physically can not?

Back off Amazon....you can't say that, you have no idea what research she's done!! & she is TRYING to learn more here! If you can't be supportive then be quiet!

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,146]

Amazon... What are you talking about??? How can you say that it doesn't sound like she did any research???

I see your up to your old tricks again!

Way to be supportive of a new person

I had a very similar thought about exactly how much research had been done preop. I would have delivered my question a lot differently tho.

Either way, you cannot un-ring the Sleeve bell. I'm glad you're here now gathering data.

It is my understanding that we will increase our caloric gradually and back to a healthy caloric intake when we are in maintenance.

Right now if we were consuming more calories in our tiny tummies than we'd have to be consuming a lot of junk. Like milkshakes. It's a process. We leaped. We're sleeved. We have to trust the process.

Amanda Rae

[No game 14,437]

Well Amanda I'm glad you didn't say anything 0_o

I think she was questioning about calories in the weeks to come.... There are a lot of different opinions on here about how many calories.

And to have someone shove it down her throat about never going above a certain amount can confuse a new person don't you think??

[AdiosPlusSizes 19]

You can not physically eat more than 500-600 calories, your tummy is the size of a banana and at best in the beginning can only hold 2 ounces at at time. Doesn't sound to me like you did research before you had your sleeve surgery. Tell us how you will be consuming 1200 calories when you physically can not?

What research are you referring to? Do you mean scientific research? I would love to hear about more research. Do you have some credible sites that you'd recommend?

I watched a lot of VSG pre and post-op YouTube videos, for about two and a half years before having the surgery. This is really where I got a lot of my information from. I cannot say, however, that I conducted any rigorous research beforehand. I never even glanced at a medical journal or anything like that. I've relied on what I learned from following many, many people's personal experience.

From the hundereds of videos that I watched, it seems that you can eat just about anything, just a few months post-op, but not necessarily the same quantity as before, unless you end up stretching your sleeve. Many people state that they struggle with regain, so it would seem that you can eat quite a bit.

On the day my surgeon discharged me from the hospital, he warned me against stretching out the sleeve, saying that once it was stretched that it would never go back again. So, I know that it's very important not to consume too much bulk. It's pretty easy, though, to consume 1,200 calories a day with very little bulk. I think a pint of Ben & Jerry's would do the trick, not that I'll ever eat that. (Dairy and my tummy, at least my old tummy, don't usually get a long.) If you are trying to eat 1,200 calories of pure veggies, I can see that this would be almost impossible without stretching back out your stomach. I'd say there are lots of ways to get in well over 1,200 daily calories with a stomach the size of a banana.

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,146]

Well Amanda I'm glad you didn't say anything 0_o

I think she was questioning about calories in the weeks to come.... There are a lot of different opinions on here about how many calories.

And to have someone shove it down her throat about never going above a certain amount can confuse a new person don't you think??

I think the whole process can be very confusing and stressful. And I agree we should try and be supportive and helpful.

[AdiosPlusSizes 19]

I had a very similar thought about exactly how much research had been done preop. I would have delivered my question a lot differently tho.

Either way, you cannot un-ring the Sleeve bell. I'm glad you're here now gathering data.

It is my understanding that we will increase our caloric gradually and back to a healthy caloric intake when we are in maintenance.

Right now if we were consuming more calories in our tiny tummies than we'd have to be consuming a lot of junk. Like milkshakes. It's a process. We leaped. We're sleeved. We have to trust the process.

Amanda Rae

I totally don't mind people asking me questions. It is always better to ask then to assume and make misguided suggestions or misinterpret someone's question. I really appreciate your support and your lovely way of putting things. Feel free to ask me anything you'd like.

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,146]

Well Amanda I'm glad you didn't say anything 0_o

I think she was questioning about calories in the weeks to come.... There are a lot of different opinions on here about how many calories.

And to have someone shove it down her throat about never going above a certain amount can confuse a new person don't you think??

I totally agree the process is stressful and confusing. I also agree we should work to encourage, guide, and build each other up.

Whether it was researched to the point of obsession (me) or not is no longer relevant. We are sleeved. We should be work on helping.

I sincerely hope my previous comment was not taken as an attack. It certainly wasn't meant that way.

Amanda Rae

[AmandaRaeLeo 2,146]

What research are you referring to? Do you mean scientific research? I would love to hear about more research. Do you have some credible sites that you'd recommend?

I watched a lot of VSG pre and post-op YouTube videos' date=' for about two and a half years before having the surgery. This is really where I got a lot of my information from. I cannot say, however, that I conducted any rigorous research beforehand. I never even glanced at a medical journal or anything like that. I've relied on what I learned from following many, many people's personal experience.

From the hundereds of videos that I watched, it seems that you can eat just about anything, just a few months post-op, but not necessarily the same quantity as before, unless you end up stretching your sleeve. Many people state that they struggle with regain, so it would seem that you can eat quite a bit.

On the day my surgeon discharged me from the hospital, he warned me against stretching out the sleeve, saying that once it was stretched that it would never go back again. So, I know that it's very important not to consume too much bulk. It's pretty easy, though, to consume 1,200 calories a day with very little bulk. I think a pint of Ben & Jerry's would do the trick, not that I'll ever eat that. (Dairy and my tummy, at least my old tummy, don't usually get a long.) If you are trying to eat 1,200 calories of pure veggies, I can see that this would be almost impossible without stretching back out your stomach. I'd say there are lots of ways to get in well over 1,200 daily calories with a stomach the size of a banana. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

I think Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey would be perfect. Banana. Walnuts. Dark chocolate. Dairy.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

Where are you getting your numbers from? Hmm...

I just googled anorexica, out of curiosity, and found lots of different caloric values can be considered as this level. One post said that anorexics typically eat between 50 and 800 calories, depending on the severity of their disorder. Another site said that anything below 1,200 calories can be considered anorexic behavior because a person is consuming less than their resting basal metabolic rate.

I would really like, just for my piece of mind, to know why someone would recommend between 600-800 calories post-op bariatric surgery. Does our resting basal metabolic rate change after surgery or does it slow down our metabolism? Does anyone know? I still see no logical reason for going so low, but there might be a key piece of information I'm missing.

Thanks for your input.

Well I help people that struggle with anorexia and they typically eat about 300 calories. Besides this point is mute, from what I'm reading on these posts, there seems to be a struggle going on. You report that you haven't researched medical journals but you have reads a lot of posts from individuals on his/her experiences. If you want to eat high calorie, fat sugar latent foods, then eat that food so you can get your calories up. But I really dont advise. We are all individuals and we make our own choices. Peace to you and wish you luck on your journey......

[former_vbg 198]

You can not physically eat more than 500-600 calories, your tummy is the size of a banana and at best in the beginning can only hold 2 ounces at at time. Doesn't sound to me like you did research before you had your sleeve surgery. Tell us how you will be consuming 1200 calories when you physically can not?

This couldn't be further from the truth. All a person has to do is DRINK their calories and that can come in MANY forms... soda, McDonald shakes, and lots of other things.

[Fiddleman 4,376]

I bet I could get 1200 calories from eating tortilla chips all day long. Those suckers chew down to nothing, especially the kind they serve you in Mexican restaraunts. Just saying that there are ways...

[No game 14,437]

I don't eat full fat sugar laced food....

And my calories are on the higher side now..

I don't eat bread. Pasta and such but when I eat cheese I do not eat low fat or fat free... Same with mayo

I eat meats. hummus, veggies, tofu, I must admit I had a piece of pizza once !

I'm four months out and I can eat...

[former_vbg 198]

I certainly am all ears to your recommendations, coming from a successful WLS person 2 years out.

What does VBG stand for? I'm going to guess that is Very Big Girl...am I right?

VBG stands for Vertical Banded Gastroplasty. I had that WLS 15 yrs ago, worked for a number of years actually. You can read more about it at this link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_banded_gastroplasty_surgery

It's good to get lots of peoples opinions, just remember you will got lots of variations and that's not bad. Just combine that with your own research, your Dr./ NUT's advice and develop your own strategy. There is no right path on this journey. There are basic guidelines and it sounds like you have them.

The people that come across all high and mighty "know it all" attitude just need to be taken with a grain of salt. Perhaps they mean well, or maybe they really think they are an expert. Either way it is a journey and it sounds like you are well on your way.

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

I don't eat full fat sugar laced food....

And my calories are on the higher side now..

I don't eat bread. Pasta and such but when I eat cheese I do not eat low fat or fat free... Same with mayo

I eat meats. hummus, veggies, tofu, I must admit I had a piece of pizza once !

I'm four months out and I can eat...

Absolutely Lauren, however your 4 months out, not 2 weeks.....You are doing just fine.....I believe that anyone 2 weeks out would have a pretty tough time eating 1200 calories......I do admit I could be wrong depending on the size of the bougie used. But for me, I would not have wanted to eat 1200 calories so soon because that's when i had the rapid weight loss.....and I do acknowledge that that's just me, I'm uniques just like everyone else. we all have our own preferences.... No harm no fowl...

[LindaS 316]

I'm 5'7 and almost 20 months post-op. I started at 255 pounds, and I am down to 172. I don't tend to count calories -- I count Protein. My goal is 70 grams a day. I eat Protein first almost always, which leaves little room for other things.

My calorie count based on this protein goal is typically under 1,000 calories. Most of the time, it is around 800 calories.

I exercise regularly, and I have a lot of energy. I also have months where I don't lose any weight at all. My blood work has came back normal, but I will have my latest results April 8, which is the day before my 20 month surgiversary.

To get over 1,000 calories, I need to make bad choices. Those choices usually involve carbs (potato chips or popcorn) or liquid calories. If I keep protein first, I do well.