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

Protein, carbs and calorie goals/limits



Recommended Posts

Hi all

I'm 15 days post op and although I have a plan from my nutritionist on what types of food to eat, she doesn't set me any goals. I've lost 13 pounds since surgery & I'm worried I'm not getting enough calories or hindering my weight loss. (I'm still super happy with 13 pounds though).

I was wondering if ya'll could share your Protein goals, your carb limit and your average calorie goal for the day? And does this remain the same once you're on full foods? (I'm currently on soft foods)

Many thanks for any advice you could offer :)

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

when you can eat all the Protein you can ,all the Water you can and keep carbs below 45 a day. keep moving and exercise all you can. had mine in march ,2016 have lost 100lb this way. good luck you can do it. robert

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My goals were:

full liquids and purees (first 8 weeks total): max 60 carbs per day, max 650 calories per day, minimum 70 grams Protein

soft foods (months 2 - 6): max 60 carbs per day, max 800 calories per day, minimum 75 grams protein

continuing in weight loss mode past 6 months: max 75 carbs per day, max 900 - 1100 calories (depending on whether I had at least 30 minutes of vigorous exercise that day -- 900 calories if no exercise or moderate exercise, 1100 calories if 30+ minutes vigorous exercise), min 90 grams protein.

I lost over 200 lbs with this plan and hit my goal weight, so it worked well for me. IMO the idea that you need more calories to lose weight is a myth -- if it were true, anorexics would be fat and no human or other animal would have ever died of starvation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My NUT only gave Protein and Water goals; 100 grams Protein and 64 oz (at least) Water. I asked about carbs/calories/macros, and she said they don't believe in counting that (?) and just focus on getting in protein and water first and there should be no issues staying in the appropriate range of calories for weight loss.

That didn't sit great with me, so I've come here and seen many people are in the 600-800 range of calories for the first 6-9 months, and then it seems to grow up to 1000 calories around the year mark.

I am tracking everything for myself in MFP (My Fitness Pal,) and find I lose best at 35 carbs or less. Even 45 carbs slows/stalls me -- but that is just me. I've seen people who feel ill/weak in sustained ketosis, so there's some give/take for everyone, I think.

I need structured rules to follow -- I had a lifetime of eating/drinking when and whatever I wanted -- and it got me needing surgery, so this is just what works for me (so far.)

I plugged in my info into a rough RMR calculator and was SHOCKED how few calories I'd need just to maintain my weight. When I subtracted what I'm actually eating, it came out accurate (almost to the tenth of a pound!) what my weekly weight loss was so far. Amazing. It really showed me how out of whack my eating has been all these years, that I can survive on so much fewer calories.

Unless you're REALLY active, it's a small number you need to survive and maintain, let alone lose. Just my two cents.

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

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 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

    ×