I am 6 weeks out and I am on to my lifetime eating and I am just curious how many calories should we maintain a day for a healthy weight loss.

I'm interested in finding this out too - I've not really counted calories, but perhaps this is where I've been failing - I seem to have been on a stall for a year

My plan has me on 800-1200 forever calories, but I find that on strength training days I need more.

Your bariatric team/NUT should give you that information when you have your follow-up visits.

Your bariatric team/NUT should give you that information when you have your follow-up visits.

My nutritionist refuses to set a calorie target for me. She just insists I meet my Protein and Water targets every day. But I started out getting maybe 500-600 calories a day tops until I was on solid foods. From there I tried to work my way up over 800 in order to begin regularly exercising. Now that I am running and working out intensely, I aim for over 1000... usually 1000-1200 a day?

Here's a general rule:

1-4 Weeks: 400+ calories

5-6 Weeks: 500-600 calories

6-8 Weeks: 600-800 calories

8 Weeks and beyond: 800-1000 calories

Just an example, others mileage may vary (as Ann says)

At six months, I started ramping up my exercise so brought my calories up from 800 to 1000. Now in my 9th month, I'm up to about 1,100, and losing okay at this point. I also run up to 2 miles a day and weight train.

It took me 7 to 8 months just to reach 600 my first 3 to 4 mon I did good to meet 500..I'm 10 mon now I still under 1000

It took me 7 to 8 months just to reach 600 my first 3 to 4 mon I did good to meet 500..I'm 10 mon now I still under 1000

Wow? Really? You must have a tiny sleeve!

What @@Babbs said. I maintain on around 1400 calories a day now. But to lose, I have to stay under 1000.

I have the same issue. I exercise a lot and have a very physical job. I wear an armband that measures my calories burned and I am always over 3000. My NUT has me at 800 calories right now, but I think that's whats stalling my weight loss. I go see the nurse practitioner Monday, so hopefully she can give me more information. I think they often give a one size fits all calorie goal.

Use my fitness pal. Enter the food and measure measure measure

I never measured, counted or tracked anything except Protein and Water. I don't plan meals, I simply eat a healthy, balanced diet of protein, veggies, fruit and whole grains....with a few indulgences of candy, desert, alcohol, pastries, etc thrown in a few times/month. Pretty much like any "normal" fit, healthy person.

But since most people on BP like to measure their progress with numbers, I did a few spot checks along the way so I could "communicate" with the number crunchers....

1-4 months out 500-800 calories....I had non-surgical health issues that impeded my ability to eat/drink, that's why this number is so low.

6-8 months 1000-1200 calories....passed surgeon's goal at 6 months and passed personal goal at 7 1/2 months

9-17 months maintaining 10 pounds below goal (BMI 23) at 1400-1600 calories.

I ascribe to the theory that if you limit your caloric intake for an extended time, your body will adapt to the limitations and it will be harder to maintain and easier to gain as you get farther out when you try and increase your calories.

I dont exercise, I simply have a physical job that involves a lot of lifting, bending, squatting, walking, standing, etc. and an active lifestyle (horseback riding, chores, kayaking, hiking, skiing). I usually hit 12,000-20,000 steps on my fitbit just in my everyday activities. I allow myself a 4 pound bounce range and when I go over, I cut back to strict protein and veggies and when I drop below, I add more carbs.

I am so grateful for this site, such great information.

I'm 2 pounds below goal (and still losing about a pound a week), but eating close to 1,400 calories most days.

My nutritionist, my exercise consultant and I have all estimated (independently) that at my current metabolic rate and exercise level my maintenance calorie budget should be 1,600 - 1,700 calories a day.

My nut said around 1200. I don't meet that often. I'm normally around 900 to 1000.

1200 cal