Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

How many calories should we be eating a day.



Recommended Posts

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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 :(

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Some days I feel like an infiltrator... I'm participating in society as a "thin" person. They have no idea that I haven't always been one of them! 🤣
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • ChunkCat

      Thank you everyone for your well wishes! I totally forgot I wrote an update here... I'm one week post op today. I gained 15 lbs in water weight overnight because they had to give me tons of fluids to bring my BP up after surgery! I stayed one night in the hospital. Everything has been fine except I seem to have picked up a bug while I was there and I've been running a low grade fever, coughing, and a sore throat. So I've been hydrating well and sleeping a ton. So far the Covid tests are negative.
      I haven't been able to advance my diet past purees. Everything I eat other than tofu makes me choke and feels like trying to swallow rocks. They warned me it would get worse before it gets better, so lets hope this is all normal. I have my follow up on Monday so we'll see. Living on shakes and soup again is not fun. I had enough of them the first time!! LOL 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×