Some of you know me and some of you don't and at six months out some of you may not count me as a "Veteran" and that's okay- I'm not. I'm as green as the fresh-cut grass. And my questions are going to prove it! I'm posting here because posting in the really newbie forum isn't going to help me as much as I believe you all may be able to.

My main concern is how to increase my calorie count to where my surgeon/nutritionist wants it to be when I'm just not able to eat that much. Even with a sudden increase in my appetite, I'm finding that my calories are right around 500 for the day- not the 1200 recommended by the surgeon/nutritionist. Increasing my exercise hasn't made it easier to eat, only made me more thirsty. My diet is relatively low-carb. Meaning my carbs come only from occasional fruits and the rare starchy vegetable, as I was diagnosed with Celiac's Disease and my sleeve just doesn't tolerate any bread, rice, grains, etc. So, I don't touch the stuff- when I try, disaster! (I use MFP to track my daily intake.)

Exercise is primarily walking the local track, walking at the local cemetery (lots of hills), and using the elliptical. I also do a kettle bell shred on alternating days of the week. I'm far from sedentary since just prior to being sleeved and getting more active every day.

I still struggle to not only meet the daily calorie requirements, but to keep food down. I've had one stricture repair, I take my PPI and my anti-nausea medicine religiously. The surgeon tells me it will just be "tight" for a little while, to keep getting my Protein and calories in. How??!! And how the heck does this metabolism thing figure into it? I've lost weight but being ill and exhausted all the time is not fun.

Any suggestions that you Veteran sleevers may have as far as calories and protein go, I'd certainly appreciate it. I swear I feel as though I'm at my wit's end with this and when I see my surgeon I'd like to have something positive to report to him.

How many meals per day are you having? You should try eating 5-6 times a day but small amounts. If you can keep fluids down, add in a protein shake or bar.

I think people who have had your complicatins might be able to help. There is someone on this list who had a different reason, but same problem with food intake. If she doesn't reply, I can PM her on your behalf.

A suggestion is to make 2 meals a day a premier proteinn drink from costco. 160 calories each, 30 G a Protein each and very low carb. That gets you near where you need to be on protein for the day, and you don't have to chug the whole thing. You can work at it and count it toward your liquids too. Then on the food, can you add in a piece of cheese or two, some nuts etc - some protein sources that are a bit higher fat and therefore higher calories?

I work out six days a week. It's important to me to preserve my lean muscle mass.

When I needed to increase my calories but had too much restriction, my NUT supported drinking calories. Healthy calories. So I drink soy milk when I can't get to 1200 with food. I also use the premier shakes to boost Protein and calories. (I don't have a hard time getting protein, though.)

I also eat food that tend to slide, like cottage cheese and Greek yogurt. I add salsa to the cottage cheese to keep it interesting. I know cottage cheese isn't a slider for every one, but it is for me.

I also eat a lot of Beans.

Really dense protein is what keeps me full and if i eat meat at every meal, it prevents me from getting the calories I require now.

Your capacity will change. You're right on the cusp of that change. Good luck

Thank you very much for your terrific thoughts and suggestions so far! They're very much appreciated!

Chike makes delicious meal replacement shakes, they are higher calorie, lots of protein and extra nutrition. Their banana and the chocolate are delicious, You can also get samples from their site to test the flavors... they have orange cream too I think...... https://www.chikenutrition.com/ You can even mix a tablespoon of Peanut butter in and make yourself an Elvis! It is thick and rich, may take a while to drink. Mix with soy or milk for extra richness and protein.

https://www.chikenutrition.com/chike-variety-pack.html

Chike makes delicious meal replacement shakes' date=' they are higher calorie, lots of Protein and extra nutrition. Their banana and the chocolate are delicious, You can also get samples from their site to test the flavors... they have orange cream too I think...... https://www.chikenutrition.com/ You can even mix a tablespoon of Peanut Butter in and make yourself an Elvis! It is thick and rich, may take a while to drink. Mix with soy or milk for extra richness and protein.

https://www.chikenutrition.com/chike-variety-pack.html[/quote']

Thanks so much for the recommendation! I'm going to order a variety pack to try. I've had a difficult time with most Protein drinks, with the exception of Syntrax nectar and GNC Unflavored. Even the soy and vegetarian (pea?) didn't set well, so I've spent lots of money experimenting. As far as the Chike being higher calorie, my doctor would be happy with that since I'm still (according to him) under where I need to be. Thanks again for the links, Feedyoureye!

Sent from my iPhone 5 using VST

My go to high calorie foods have always been all natural peanut butter and guacamole. Especially the guac...it slides right down and avocados have as much energy as any food pound for pound. In terms of easy to swallow calories, I find both fit the bill. Now they aren't necessarily full of protein, but they are healthy fats.

My go to high calorie foods have always been all natural Peanut Butter and guacamole.

^^^^This...one of my favorite up calorie Snacks is a melted peanut, strawberry and wheat germ taco on a low carb soft tortilla. About 10 seconds in the microwave..really good on those days when things just won't go down the way they should, or if I have been low calorie for several days in a row.

Just can't guac though. Something about the texture. Didn't like it pre-surgery and can eat it fine, just really don't like it. It is healthy though so I am trying it more often, but still not liking it.

If y'all want to try the avocado in a different texture, I blend mine up with a 1/2 cup of cottage cheese (14 protein!) & 4 T of Dijon mustard & eat it on Kim's Magic Pop (only 2 carbs!).

Kristie

If you can tolerate cucumbers, I buy the small gormet cukes and the 100 cal pkgs of Wholly Guacamole ( I actually like the Walmart brand better Marketside) slice the cukes very think and use like chips for the guac. It's awesome!

What have you been eating that seems to work for you? If you're having trouble with solids, do you have trouble with mushy foods?

Tuna or chicken salad made with full fat mayo or miracle whip, is a good easy Protein.

Refried Beans with a little cheese melted and some full fat sour cream- yummy and is usually easy to eat.

Do you like Protein Bars? The Power crunch bars are delicious. 10 grams of protein 200 calories.

Again, if I knew what you were already eating, I think I could be more help.

I don't really have much to add here, but wanted to express that I'm sorry you are having trouble keeping things down. That was my biggest fear with surgery in fact, the idea of not keeping food down kept me from getting the band and ultimately led me to the sleeve.

I also agree that your sleeve will relax on it's own the further out you get. Until then my only thoughts are to find the foods that YOU do like and DO stay down and try upping the calorie/protein count. If you like any type of yogurt, you can add dry Protein powder or Peanut Butter to that. Adding a banana to the Protein Drink that you already like can help. cheese has lots of calories in it, maybe just try adding a slice or two to your meals or on it's own (1 sandwich slice of cheese will get you around 100 extra calories). But since you are trying to get more calories in I think you just need to experiment with adding in some extra foods or as someone else pointed out extra meals. Best of luck and I hope that sleeve relaxes soon for you!

I spent months puking and my restriction is still very tight (15 months.) I had stopped losing weight and my nut said it was because I was not eating enough. I eat 6 times a day (at least.) my goal is 1200 cals. My nut said for me to get my cals any way I could. I have never completely low carved it. They have had me drinking sweet tea and/or regular Gatorade from the beginning. There have been times that those were the only calories I had. I currently get as many as 200 calories a day from that and they told me not to stop. Staying at that calorie level WILL damage your BMR...possibly permanently. You have to get in more calories. If you have to start drinking Protein shakes or milk several times a day, do it. I throw up every time I drink milk, but I can now stomach the shakes and have as many as 3 a day. If I have been able to eat well, I drink the 100 cal EAS. if I need the extra, I drink the Atkins 140-160. I have lots of cheese, Peanut Butter and bacon. They are higher calorie and take up very little room. My go to since being sleeved has been a slice of American cheese with 1/2-1 tbsp of PB (110-160 cals.) If you will add one Atkins shake and 2 tbsp. of PB to your diet a day you will have an extra 340 cals. That is going to take your metabolism and energy a long way. If you are not diabetic or have metabolic syndrome you might want to try some Gatorade too. 50 cals per 8oz. The sugar has not effected my weight loss at all. It is the only thing that had kept me going much of the time. I have lost 164#. It is going to be worth you experimenting. You don't want to start damaging your BMR...or even worse start burning your internal organs for fuel.

Sent from my iPhone using VST

I damaged my BMR from doing a year of medically supervised Optifast. At the worst it was only 1300 as tested by the breathing machine. The doctor ordered a repeat test because he didn't believe it. I am hoping the sleeve combined with weight training will help. Metabolism is serious. I only lost 20 pounds from a year of eating less than 1000 calories a day.

I damaged my BMR from doing a year of medically supervised Optifast. At the worst it was only 1300 as tested by the breathing machine. The doctor ordered a repeat test because he didn't believe it. I am hoping the sleeve combined with weight training will help. Metabolism is serious. I only lost 20 pounds from a year of eating less than 1000 calories a day.

You know, the more we discuss this, the more I am realizing there's more unknown than known. If we do all this to get healthy but we can't BE healthy (food and calorie levels) well, hmm. I know my BMR is messed up too. Years of yoyo and then sleeve, at 3 years out, I love the initial weight loss and have mostly maintained but I think my age ( 59) and the above mentioned has made it really difficult to just "be normal" and not gain. Have to be very, very careful of carbs, calories, never mind losing what I've regained (about 15 lbs). I wouldn't trade a thing and would do it again but know this will be a forever battle, too. ????