Hey all. I'm due to be banded on March 19th, God willing. :girl_hug: The nutritionist at my preop class stressed the importance of getting the required protein and vitamins but never made any mention of how many calories we should be aiming for.

I'm more concerned with getting ENOUGH calories than too many. Should I aim for 1200-1500 per day? Is it hard to get that many in during the full liquid stage?

Would appreciate any input or guidance. :cake:

Thanks!!

my nutritionalist said 800-1000 calories for the first 21 days. and you know, i didn't pay attention to what she said to do after that. HORRIBLE, i know. but if i'm not talking, i tend to get bored pretty fast. :faint:

My nutritionists view (and she is banded and at goal) is that, we should get by on as few calories as possible and still get in our protien, dairy, and veggies.

Don't you worry that if you do not get in enough calories, that is unhealthy too? I think 1000-1300 range should be good.

The liquid stage is really difficult to get enough calories in, even on full liquids I struggled somewhat. But, I definately do not feel it is safe to purposely dip below 1200 calories a day for any amount of time.

I really hate hearing about doctors who are telling people to eat 800 calories a day. There was just a major scientific study done a few months ago that proved that people on a restricted diet (below 1000/day) did lose weight but that it came right back and they ended up in worse health than the group who ate a balanced diet above 1000/day.

I have done well with my band and I truly believe it's because I make sure to eat enough each day.

But, during the liquids stage just do the best you can. I know I just couldn't eat much during this stage so I used my protein shakes as often as possible to try to get in as much nutrition as possible. You'll be fine!

I was simply trying to express the point that it is not necessary to reduce to 800/day to lose weight. But, everyone should do what they feel comfortable with and what they decide is best with their doctors.

I also feel like it must make some difference how big you are or whether male or female. It seems like a one-size fits all of 800 or 1200 or whatever is probably not entirely accurate.

I was told from the very beginning 1000 calories a day. When I was on liquids I know I didn't make it even close to that amount. I go back on Thursday (hopefully for an adjustment) and I am sure the 1000 calories a day will still be my limit.

You can go as low as 800 calories a day. 1200-1500 is more maintenance then losing. I would say try and eat as much as you can but stop when you are full.

When ever I feel deprived of calories,I remember that bodyfat is stored calories. So If I eat fewer than my body needs to run (about 1600) then my body will supply the rest of the calories by breaking down fat. Neat system. The key is not letting your blood sugar spike and drop to severely and try to get the protein and vitamins, so that you don't break down your own protein (muscle mass). So eating an 800 calorie diet won't harm a person who has 175,000 extra calories stored on their body (about 50lbs). That is as long as you eat enough protein to keep from digesting your own protein.

That is my surgeons feelings as well. If we have fat stored on our bodies we don't need calories for energy we need protien and nourishment. I honestly don't believe the starvation mode affects people who are overweight unless their are other issues involved. Everyone needs to find what they can live with though. If you lose on 1500cal a day and are happy with your loss and how you feel then great! We all need to find that place where we can live at forever or we will gain back the weight. If you can live on 800cal a day and not feel deprived then go for it. You will need to up your calories once you reach goal but until then you are fine. The key is to eat your protien so your body doesn't metabolize your muscle. The RNY crowd have malabsorption, they get very few calories that actually absorb into their system, their survival is based on protien for at least the first year till their body figures out how to absorb nutrients and calories from food again. If we could live on vitamins and our protien shakes and not go buggy we could lose that fast too, but it isn't as healthy to lose that fast and it isn't possible to live without food forever, so I just keep focusing on my protien and let the calories fall where they do, some days it's 1200 and others it's 600 and once in a blue moon it's 1600 (If I eat a lot of junk that day)