Calories

[mb5282 19]

Hello everyone....I just entered into 3 months post op from my surgery that was on July 18, 2016 and I had some questions about calorie intake....I notice I am only getting 600-800 calories a day! I feel like that is such a low number. I am eating 60-80 g of protein/day and keeping up on my fluids but I just have no energy. My weight is coming off and I was down 44 lbs as of September 3 (Dr. said I can only weigh in once a month) and I am working out but I am always tired. Does anyone else notice this? Am I not taking in enough calories or is this just normal?? Thanks in advance for all your helpful answers and have a great day!!

Mindy

[Christinamo7 4,041]

as long as your nutrition labs are good, you're tired because behind the scenes your body is extremely busy breaking down fat stores, and flushing out garbage. you may not feel terribly active, but inside you really are! in addition to not having a bunch of carbs - it's normal.

so rest when you need to and know that the tiredness should go away when the weight loss slows down.

[mb5282 19]

as long as your nutrition labs are good, you're tired because behind the scenes your body is extremely busy breaking down fat stores, and flushing out garbage. you may not feel terribly active, but inside you really are! in addition to not having a bunch of carbs - it's normal.

so rest when you need to and know that the tiredness should go away when the weight loss slows down.

Thank you, good to know. Haven't gotten any labs done but I'll ask my primary care Dr when I see her in a month to do some to make sure!

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[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

@@mb5282

I was advised to be at around 1000-1100 calories at that point and it was really hard for me to get there because I mostly ate fish at that time.

You started with a high weight/bmi so you have more muscle mass than a lot of the people that post here. You need more Protein if you want to keep that muscle and you want to keep that muscle because it makes it easier to keep losing. Try getting up to 100-120 grams of Protein a day.

[mb5282 19]

@@mb5282

I was advised to be at around 1000-1100 calories at that point and it was really hard for me to get there because I mostly ate fish at that time.

You started with a high weight/bmi so you have more muscle mass than a lot of the people that post here. You need more Protein if you want to keep that muscle and you want to keep that muscle because it makes it easier to keep losing. Try getting up to 100-120 grams of Protein a day.

Really? My surgeon was saying to try to stay below 100 g protein because I went over 1 day and I was worried so I asked. I did the fast track program because it was self pay and so after originally meeting with the surgeon, I had my surgery within a month so I'm still learning a lot way after the fact of surgery. Thanks for the response and helpful advice!!

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[WLSResources/ClothingExch 3,443]

My bariatric practice RD told me not to go below 800. When she saw my food trackers and that I aimed for 1000-1150, she was pleased. That I have lapband rather than sleeve is irrelevant: The body needs what it needs to function well.

Why not ask your own RD?

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

@@mb5282

I was advised to be at around 1000-1100 calories at that point and it was really hard for me to get there because I mostly ate fish at that time.

You started with a high weight/bmi so you have more muscle mass than a lot of the people that post here. You need more Protein if you want to keep that muscle and you want to keep that muscle because it makes it easier to keep losing. Try getting up to 100-120 grams of Protein a day.

Really? My surgeon was saying to try to stay below 100 g protein because I went over 1 day and I was worried so I asked. I did the fast track program because it was self pay and so after originally meeting with the surgeon, I had my surgery within a month so I'm still learning a lot way after the fact of surgery. Thanks for the response and helpful advice!!

Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App

I am not sure how long you were at this weight, but once you are morbidly obese for a long time, it changes your body. You have denser bones and more muscle mass. The amount of just lean mass I had with my last DEXA scan is basically what my total weight should be with a normal BMI. That is a long winded way of saying that I have a LOT of muscle mass.

I started at 370/365 and I had been over 300 pounds for 17 years. Carrying that amount of weight for that long, your body has to adjust to carry it.

Another reason to increase your protein goals is because it increases your calories and energy levels without leaving room for a lot of extra calories. Honestly you can get in 110 grams of just protein for less than 600 calories if you are eating fish. Example swai is 70 calories for 4 ounces and 4 ounces is 15g of protein. If you mix it up with higher calories protein like beef, pork, chicken. It is pretty easy to pull off. So even if you don't want to increase calories, you can increase protein and keep your calories low. Only thing is, you can't get that much protein in with 3 meals. I eat 4-5 times a day to get my protein in.

There is some flexibility to how you eat and you have to find something that works for you.

Like you I went from pre-op to surgery very fast although I used insurance. I didn't really lose any weight pre-op, I lost all my weight post-op. My program, the advice is okay, but I found a lot of it to be lacking, so I supplemented it with athletic science nutiriton and advice from a local university professor.

My surgery buddy that I met at the hospital that had surgery the same day I did and started off weighing more than me, has lost less weight than I have. So I think the way I eat is effective for me. I have managed to lose over 150 lbs, not damage my metabolism (it is as high or higher than a normal woman my age), and maintain enough muscle mass, that I am smaller physically now than I was in HS but I weigh a good 30-40 pounds more.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Hello everyone....I just entered into 3 months post op from my surgery that was on July 18, 2016 and I had some questions about calorie intake....I notice I am only getting 600-800 calories a day! I feel like that is such a low number. I am eating 60-80 g of protein/day and keeping up on my fluids but I just have no energy. My weight is coming off and I was down 44 lbs as of September 3 (Dr. said I can only weigh in once a month) and I am working out but I am always tired. Does anyone else notice this? Am I not taking in enough calories or is this just normal?? Thanks in advance for all your helpful answers and have a great day!!

Mindy

60-80 grams of Protein seems low along with your calories. What happens when you increase your Protein.

You also may need some healthy carbs. Are you eating vegetables?

[mb5282 19]

Hello everyone....I just entered into 3 months post op from my surgery that was on July 18, 2016 and I had some questions about calorie intake....I notice I am only getting 600-800 calories a day! I feel like that is such a low number. I am eating 60-80 g of protein/day and keeping up on my fluids but I just have no energy. My weight is coming off and I was down 44 lbs as of September 3 (Dr. said I can only weigh in once a month) and I am working out but I am always tired. Does anyone else notice this? Am I not taking in enough calories or is this just normal?? Thanks in advance for all your helpful answers and have a great day!!

Mindy

60-80 grams of Protein seems low along with your calories. What happens when you increase your Protein.

You also may need some healthy carbs. Are you eating vegetables?

That's what I was told to do by my dietician tho I agree,seems low. I eat 5-6 meals a day and try to get in both Proteins and veggies/fruit with it. I think I may need to get back in contact with my surgeon again. My dietician hasn't gotten back to me yet.

Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App

[mb5282 19]

My bariatric practice RD told me not to go below 800. When she saw my food trackers and that I aimed for 1000-1150, she was pleased. That I have lapband rather than sleeve is irrelevant: The body needs what it needs to function well.

Why not ask your own RD?

I have checked and am waiting to hear back but I just wanted to see if this was normal with others who have had the sleeve or not. I'm new to this and I just wanted more advice.

Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App

[mb5282 19]

@@mb5282

I was advised to be at around 1000-1100 calories at that point and it was really hard for me to get there because I mostly ate fish at that time.

You started with a high weight/bmi so you have more muscle mass than a lot of the people that post here. You need more Protein if you want to keep that muscle and you want to keep that muscle because it makes it easier to keep losing. Try getting up to 100-120 grams of Protein a day.

Really? My surgeon was saying to try to stay below 100 g protein because I went over 1 day and I was worried so I asked. I did the fast track program because it was self pay and so after originally meeting with the surgeon, I had my surgery within a month so I'm still learning a lot way after the fact of surgery. Thanks for the response and helpful advice!!

Sent from my SM-G935T using the BariatricPal App

I am not sure how long you were at this weight, but once you are morbidly obese for a long time, it changes your body. You have denser bones and more muscle mass. The amount of just lean mass I had with my last DEXA scan is basically what my total weight should be with a normal BMI. That is a long winded way of saying that I have a LOT of muscle mass.

I started at 370/365 and I had been over 300 pounds for 17 years. Carrying that amount of weight for that long, your body has to adjust to carry it.

Another reason to increase your protein goals is because it increases your calories and energy levels without leaving room for a lot of extra calories. Honestly you can get in 110 grams of just protein for less than 600 calories if you are eating fish. Example swai is 70 calories for 4 ounces and 4 ounces is 15g of protein. If you mix it up with higher calories protein like beef, pork, chicken. It is pretty easy to pull off. So even if you don't want to increase calories, you can increase protein and keep your calories low. Only thing is, you can't get that much protein in with 3 meals. I eat 4-5 times a day to get my protein in.

There is some flexibility to how you eat and you have to find something that works for you.

Like you I went from pre-op to surgery very fast although I used insurance. I didn't really lose any weight pre-op, I lost all my weight post-op. My program, the advice is okay, but I found a lot of it to be lacking, so I supplemented it with athletic science nutiriton and advice from a local university professor.

My surgery buddy that I met at the hospital that had surgery the same day I did and started off weighing more than me, has lost less weight than I have. So I think the way I eat is effective for me. I have managed to lose over 150 lbs, not damage my metabolism (it is as high or higher than a normal woman my age), and maintain enough muscle mass, that I am smaller physically now than I was in HS but I weigh a good 30-40 pounds more.

I've been overweight since I was 5 almost 30 years ago but haven't been in the 300's till about 5/6 years ago. Makes sense what you're saying tho. I will have to try and up my protein and see if that helps any. Thanks so much for your advice and help!!!

Mindy

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[WLSResources/ClothingExch 3,443]

@@mb5282, got it. There's a good deal to learn. Much of it comes along after surgery when you're really living it. If some things made you scratch your head earlier, you'll laugh to see in time that they weren't so complicated after all. When I attended band support group before my surgery and right after the intro info seminar, I was almost in tears thinking I was too dumb ever to understand what people were talking about. Look at me now -- No hands!