Many diet plans tell us it's all about the calories. But is that true after weight loss surgery?

Can you really keep eating everything you love just limit the portions?

Bariatric Dietitian Elizabeth Anderson provides her take on this question in the final installment of her dangerous diet tips series.

Imagine me, 16 years old at the neighbor’s pool, feeling pretty sassy in my new one piece bathing suit with the buttons down each side.

My grandmother’s friend edges up to the side of the pool and motions me over conspiratorially.

“Elizabeth, I see you’ve lost some weight, tell me, what’s your secret?”

“It’s easy, just eat 1000 calories a day. You can eat whatever you want just don't go over 1000."

Ladies and gentlemen, why did I ever pay for a nutrition degree when I clearly had all the information at age 16????

Clearly, I jest.

1000 calories of hot dogs, English muffins, fat free cookies and pancakes does not a diet make—let alone a healthy weight loss plan.

But it’s soooo tempting to follow this advice. It’s simple, clear cut and junk food is totally fine--as long as you keep the total consumption under the specified number of calories.

Some WLS patients have taken the bait—especially after they stop losing weight.

Not surprisingly, there are some problems with this type of plan.

1. 1000 calories of potato chips isn’t nutritious but it fits the criteria.

2. If you don’t have enough protein you’ll be compromising your weight loss—regardless of calories.

3. Individual calorie needs depend on sex, age and activity level to name a few. One size does not fit all.

There’s a better way. Stop counting calories. Don’t let a number determine how much you’re going to eat today. Rely instead on your surgical tool and natural hunger.

This can be scary—flying without a net. The temptation to use total calories as a guide is real. But ignore it. You are ready for something else, something more effective and natural.

Here’s how to start:

1. Eat three bariatric-sized meals and two portioned snacks each day.

2. Sit down to eat, eliminate distractions: TV, computer, magazines or books.

3. Pay attention to the deliciousness of the food. Savor it.

4. Try to take at least 15 minutes to finish a meal, 30 is better.

5. When you are full, stop eating. Notice if there is still food on the plate. If there is, does that make you uneasy? There are a lot of members in the Clean Plate Club. Cancelling your membership IS possible, but first you have to realize you are a member.

It isn’t easy shaking old diet thinking and behaviors—the first step is realizing you are following them. With some self-compassion and support, you can find your way back to healthy and sustainable weight management.

Really enjoyed this series and learned a lot.

Elizabeth,

Thanks for this series! You gave us a lot of interesting and useful information.

I’m always so intrigued by the question of whether a calorie is always a calorie. I think there’s some evidence that says it is – didn’t some researcher somewhere lose weight by eating Twinkies, just making sure to keep his calories below a certain limit?

On the other hand, in terms of health, a calorie isn’t always the same – just this week, there was that study in the news about sugar. I think when they replaced some starch in kids’ diets with sugar, their health indicators like blood sugar went wacky within weeks!

In terms of practical, real-life messages…you are absolutely right, and I hope people pay attention! You need to eat real foods and healthy ones. You can lose weight eating 1,000 calories of potato chips, pizza, and candy bars, but you’re not going to be able to keep that up for life. The sustainable plan is exactly what you said: healthy foods, small portions, slow eating, paying attention to hunger.

Thanks very much for your great advice!

Really enjoyed this series and learned a lot.

So very glad!

Elizabeth,

Thanks for this series! You gave us a lot of interesting and useful information.

I’m always so intrigued by the question of whether a calorie is always a calorie. I think there’s some evidence that says it is – didn’t some researcher somewhere lose weight by eating Twinkies, just making sure to keep his calories below a certain limit?

On the other hand, in terms of health, a calorie isn’t always the same – just this week, there was that study in the news about sugar. I think when they replaced some starch in kids’ diets with sugar, their health indicators like blood sugar went wacky within weeks!

In terms of practical, real-life messages…you are absolutely right, and I hope people pay attention! You need to eat real foods and healthy ones. You can lose weight eating 1,000 calories of potato chips, pizza, and candy bars, but you’re not going to be able to keep that up for life. The sustainable plan is exactly what you said: healthy foods, small portions, slow eating, paying attention to hunger.

Thanks very much for your great advice!

I enjoy this community so much. Thanks for the feedback Alex.