Hi All, Ive' been banded since June, I'm tracking my cals (on cal counter), being verry diligent about staying under the 1700 cal a day that they recommend. And I'm still not losing! I entered my hight and weight ect. and I usually seem to eat about 1400 cals a day. Could that still be too much?? This happened to me befor the band when Iwas on Jenny Craig, I never lost I'm getting depressed could there be medical reason why some people dont lose?? I think if you dont eat you should lose..? thanks- jen

It is amazing how different we all are. I eat 1600 to 1700 a day and still lose 1-2 pounds a week. I do exercise four or five times a week for 40-45 minutes. I would like to cut back some on my calories so I could lose a little faster. Donna

There are lots of things I have heard you can do to break a plateau (that's where you are). One is to vary your caloric intake. Go 700-800 one day and 1000-1100 the next. For some reason I have heard this "jostles" the body chemistry and wakes it up, so to speak. There are plateau-breaking mini-diets you can try (only done for a short amount of time...once again to jostle the body chemistry). Up your protein considerably. Up your liquid intake. Physics WILL win out. If you take in less than you expend, you WILL lose.

I too think that is too many calories. The dietician I had recommended a 1200 calorie diet BEFORE banding. I'm sure that afterwards, it should be extremely less. Of course, that is only an opinion. I agree with some of the former comments, change types of foods and less calories.

I found that I eat around 1200 per day and do about 30 - 60mins of exercise a day and I will eat back my calories to stay at 1200 and I have been losing weight pretty steadyily. I tried to drop down to 1000 but lost nothing, think everyone is different - try playing with calories - try some weeks dropping by 100 or so, eat back calories, then don't eat back calories. Guess that experimenting with our bodies is all part of the journey. I am sure none of us put on the weight overnight so take some time to play around to find what works for you.

Also the reason I try and keep it at about 1200 is, I admit, scared of the starvtion mode. Now I know some people don't believe in it but I just don't want to take the chance in one day having to have my band removed and my metabolism is shot to hell (lots of scientific evidence to support starvation mode) - I also would rather eat more and just exercise I love food way too much!!!!!

Hi All-

At my last Bariatric Support group meeting we had just this discssion. The dietician said that for me it would be better to be between 1000-1200 cals a day. She also said that because i couldn't eat large quantity but could drink, that i should consider protien shake supplements. Basically, make up a shake drink out of it all day long. The added Protein is supposed to help with the metabolism.

If you really want to get a handle on how much food/calories you should be consuming to lose weight, you might want to consider getting a BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate), or RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) test done. I got a RMR test done by a registered dietition at my gym. She plugged in my daily activity level, and the amount of exercise, and gave me a number to shoot for. The test was about $80, and well worth it.

Although I don't believe in "starvation mode" per se, I do believe that some people eat too few calories to efficiently lose weight. They even talked about that on The Biggest Loser a week or so ago. Kim was fussing at Bryan for not eating enough!

Of course, a huge component of The Biggest Loser, and for any of us wanting to lose weight and keep it off is to exercise consistently and progressively. It's the only way to imrove your metabolism.

Tami