Maintenance Menu - Adding Calories Responsibly

[2Big2Skate 328]

Hi folks,

In another thread a couple of us were talking about how we couldn't stop losing until we upped our calorie count. It came out that many folks struggle to meet a higher daily total due to the wonderful restriction of our sleeves.

In this thread, I'd like to ask folks to list their tips and recipes for adding calories back into their diets to hit a higher target. Please list your cal/day target as well, so those struggling can see what's common around the community.

I'm sitting at 1300/day trying to get to 1500/day. I was only sleeved at the end of october so I'm still a baby. But I already shot past my goal and need to track and add in order to stop losing.

My best suggestion is adding high cal and high fat stuff to your yogurt. I put fruit preserves and almonds in it. Sometimes I get the hawaii trail mix and dump that in. And I snack on that throughout the day when I can. For liquids, I stopped buying the low carb RTD drinks and switched to the full monty version.

I do hit 1500 about half the time, but it's real work. I never thought I'd have THIS problem. I feel great though, so it's a good problem to have!

What are your tips/recipes?

Thanks,

Jay

[InfiniteButterfly 438]

Right now, at 2 months out, I struggle to go above 800 calories (at 800 or below, I stall. But when I bumped it to 850-900, I started losing again) To add calories, I use avocado (have it with my eggs), full-fat cheese, olive oil mayo in my tuna and egg salad (good grief does that add calories). Nuts were always a favorite way to get a quick boost in pre-surgery, but I can't have them for another couple months.

If all else fails, I have half of a Quest bar as a snack.< /p>

I also eat five small meals rather than three normal meals (my NUT's suggestion) because it helps spread the calorie intake out and I don't feel like I'm pushing myself to consume more.

[B-52 7,113]

First off, I am a Bander, not a Sleeve.....things may be different, or perhaps it is just me and my Dr.'s treatment plan....

I do not believe in "maintence" as if I was on some kind of diet....Since surgery, I have adapted a new lifestyle over time, new nutritional eating plan, giving up certain foods, learning to rely on new foods....as opposed to the way I used to eat before surgery, which led me down a path of destruction...

With this new way of eating, how I eat and what I eat, I did not decide when I should stop loosing...I let my body decide when it reached what was normal.....which it eventually did....reaching a point of equilibrium......being certain I was loosing body fat and not essential lean mass...

I have not lost, nor gained weight in over 2 years....I have a new lifestyle, a new normal weight, and this is where I will remain for the rest of my life....

For me, to increase calories would mean I want to gain weight, start to eat the wrong foods again, ...for me anyway....

This is how I have completed this Weight loss program with surgery....I consider myself 100% successful, could not be more pleased with myself and the end results....

Not saying this is the way to go, and that other people should follow my lead...just sharing how I did it....and live it today...

[DLCoggin 1,788]

I believe B-52 hit the nail on the head. But that's not really surprising since I did pretty much exactly the same thing. When my body reached the weight it wants to be at, I was eating just under 1300 calories a day. I increased my calorie intake by 100 calories a day. I did that for a week or two and monitored my weight. There was no weight increase so I then added another 100 calories and did the same thing. I found that 1600 calories a day was a good goal for me and I've used that number ever since. I walk five miles three times a week and on those days I usually increase my calorie intake to about 1800.

As many of the forum members know, I'm a huge proponent of maintaining a food log. This was just another example of the power of logging. Logging allowed me to increase my calorie intake with considerable precision. The combination of accurately tracking my calorie intake and watching how my weight responded was and is the key for my weight maintenance. My weight leveled off at 155 just under 14 months after surgery. I'm currently 33 months post-op and my weight has not been below 151 or above 156 since I hit the 155 mark. My weight this morning was 152.

I'm really not sure how important it is but I did not place any real emphasis on carbs or fat when I was determining my calorie goal for maintenance. I always monitor Protein closely but usually check carbs and fat numbers only once a week or so.

[bikrchk 1,313]

Avocados, 2% milk vs skim, Protein "Ice Cream", (see theworldaccorgingtoeggface.com), Peanut Butter or bananas in shakes, full-fat cheese, nuts, Quest bars, PowerCrunch bars and eating 5 x per day. I typically get about 1200 calories per day now, (I'm very active) and am still losing slowly with 3 pounds to goal. I don't really pay attention to carbs, only Protein.< /p>

[deana03 9]

I had my surgery 2006, Jan 7. Believe me, you will stop losing. Just continue to eat the right things and don't push. Eventually your stomach will stretch out and you will have to start watching your calories again as you start to gain weight. (It happens) I'm having another VSG because I stopped eating right and exercise. Please just understand it takes work and Maintence and if u push to fill not only does it hurt sometimes but it also stretches your stomach out. Make sure you are taking Vitamins and Biotin, b-12, calcium citrate and watch for acid reflux. Nexium is good choice.

[2Big2Skate 328]

Good advice. I still have to get through this phase where I am starting to look like a skeleton, with the wrong things sticking out of the wrong places. And I'm having trouble packing on muscle.

One thing Ive added is the Complete Cookie by Lenny and Larry. It's a little higher on carbs but still has8g of Protein (different flavors have more/less). But the thing is a gut bomb. One cookie is a full meal for me. It's all natural and vegan if youre into that. The consistency is very good, not chewy.