Guys - Calories Per Day?

[dennydenco 11]

For the guys - How many calories a day do you consume? I'm in my late 50’s and about 5 weeks post surgery. I hit about 800-900 calories a day, heavy Protein, low carb. The last few days, I seem to be able to eat a little more before satiety than I have in the last couple of weeks. I’m concerned about stretching my sleeve, over eating, etc. Probably not being logical, but still wondering. I know everybody is different, but is there a calorie range you try to stay within? Thx.

Edited June 5, 2021 by dennydenco

[The Greater Fool 2,072]

I guess around your stage if I counted calories, which I didn't and haven't but once post-op, 8-900 would not have been a bad guess.

As you heal and recover it will be easier to eat. It's will eventually be often up to you to stop before you feel full, which is why you have a meal plan.

My plan was and has been 3oz Protein, 1oz veggies 3 times a day. Once, about 2 months post-op, I was curious about calories and it was about 1200 calories. Before and since I don't count anything but my previously mentioned meals.

I either stop eating when my pouch says to stop or when I hit my previously defined meal size, whichever comes first. Exceeding either is ALWAYS a mistake I've learned through much discomfort to avoid.

18 years later, my limits are pretty much where they were a couple months post-op, and sometimes as quixotic. I stick to my plan about 90% of the time. At this point I can handle most things to some extent. Moderation in all things, including moderation.

If you don't push your limits your limits won't change much. At least mine haven't.

Good luck,

Tek

[dennydenco 11]

14 hours ago, The Greater Fool said:

I guess around your stage if I counted calories, which I didn't and haven't but once post-op, 8-900 would not have been a bad guess.

As you heal and recover it will be easier to eat. It's will eventually be often up to you to stop before you feel full, which is why you have a meal plan.

My plan was and has been 3oz Protein, 1oz veggies 3 times a day. Once, about 2 months post-op, I was curious about calories and it was about 1200 calories. Before and since I don't count anything but my previously mentioned meals.

I either stop eating when my pouch says to stop or when I hit my previously defined meal size, whichever comes first. Exceeding either is ALWAYS a mistake I've learned through much discomfort to avoid.

18 years later, my limits are pretty much where they were a couple months post-op, and sometimes as quixotic. I stick to my plan about 90% of the time. At this point I can handle most things to some extent. Moderation in all things, including moderation.

If you don't push your limits your limits won't change much. At least mine haven't.

Good luck,

Tek

This was excellent insight. Thanks so much, Tek.

[bhrobins 66]

49yo man here

6' 3", 382 HW, 309 SW, Sleeve 5/18/20, 216 CW

I stayed around 650 cals for the first 3 months post op then up to 900 thru 6 months. Hit goal at 7 months and bumped up to 1200 cals. By 9 months out was at 2000 cals for my maintenance level.

I always focused on Protein and hydration. My nutritionist wanted me to increase calories sooner, but I felt with my restriction I just couldn't get there.

It worked best for me to measure and log everything that I ingested. Even 1+ year out, I still do this daily. Helps keep me honest and gives me good data to look back on. YMMV, though, so find what works for you.

You will still be successful at a 900 calorie as you are well under your daily calorie need (BMR). As long as you are in a deficit, you will lose weight, even with an occasional stall. Most important thing is to stick with the program and not get into bad habits. During this time you almost can't fail to lose as long as you moderate your intake and keep moving - even just walking or other light exercise.

Stick with it, you can do it!

[Officially Not Fatty Matty 462]

6’4” here. I was 400-500 for the first several months, lost really fast. I’m one year post op, below the arbitrary goal by quite a bit and having a hard time finding a maintenance calorie count I can manage. I’m up to 1800-2000 by using food I never thought I would eat again to keep volume low but calories high and finally seem to be stabilizing. It’s the first week I haven’t lost but I also haven’t pooped in five days (this has been typical for me for the past year). I seem to be in a cycle of not going, using epsom salt to vacate the inner tubes and then weighing and using that as my weekly gauge to see where I really am. But to answer your question 2000 and if I’m maintaining it’s very close.

[dennydenco 11]

10 hours ago, bhrobins said:

49yo man here

6' 3", 382 HW, 309 SW, Sleeve 5/18/20, 216 CW

I stayed around 650 cals for the first 3 months post op then up to 900 thru 6 months. Hit goal at 7 months and bumped up to 1200 cals. By 9 months out was at 2000 cals for my maintenance level.

I always focused on Protein and hydration. My nutritionist wanted me to increase calories sooner, but I felt with my restriction I just couldn't get there.

It worked best for me to measure and log everything that I ingested. Even 1+ year out, I still do this daily. Helps keep me honest and gives me good data to look back on. YMMV, though, so find what works for you.

You will still be successful at a 900 calorie as you are well under your daily calorie need (BMR). As long as you are in a deficit, you will lose weight, even with an occasional stall. Most important thing is to stick with the program and not get into bad habits. During this time you almost can't fail to lose as long as you moderate your intake and keep moving - even just walking or other light exercise.

Stick with it, you can do it!

Excellent insight. Thx.

[dennydenco 11]

25 minutes ago, Officially Not Fatty Matty said:

6’4” here. I was 400-500 for the first several months, lost really fast. I’m one year post op, below the arbitrary goal by quite a bit and having a hard time finding a maintenance calorie count I can manage. I’m up to 1800-2000 by using food I never thought I would eat again to keep volume low but calories high and finally seem to be stabilizing. It’s the first week I haven’t lost but I also haven’t pooped in five days (this has been typical for me for the past year). I seem to be in a cycle of not going, using epsom salt to vacate the inner tubes and then weighing and using that as my weekly gauge to see where I really am. But to answer your question 2000 and if I’m maintaining it’s very close.

At 400-500 calories per day, did you have issues with fatigue?

[Officially Not Fatty Matty 462]

No fatigue at all. I’ve been hyper energetic since surgery and really only feel a little “blah” now that I’m eating more.

[Chris1345 19]

The first few months I was probably getting about 800 calories per day. Now, I'm 11 months post-op and try to stay under 1,500 per day. I'm still losing.

[Creekimp13 5,841]

Not a guy, but figured I'd throw in my two cents. My doctor wanted us to reach 1200 calories per day as soon as we could (part of a study on post surgical diet and maintenance). I reached 1200 at around 3 weeks...6 little 200 calorie meals a day. Stayed at 1200 calories a day during loss phase. At maintenance, I hang out around 1400-1600 calories per day. At my yearly exam a couple weeks ago I was within one pound of what I weighed two years ago (didn't have a weigh in last year, just a video visit due to Covid). But yeah...typically closer to 1600 calories a day and maintaining really well. No gym or anything like that, but I walk at least 10K steps a day, garden, bike...pretty active person with heavier muscle mass.

[amgoich 0]

For the guys - How many calories a day do you consume? I'm in my late 50’s and about 5 weeks post surgery. I hit about 800-900 calories a day, heavy Protein, low carb. The last few days, I seem to be able to eat a little more before satiety than I have in the last couple of weeks. I’m concerned about stretching my sleeve, over eating, etc. Probably not being logical, but still wondering. I know everybody is different, but is there a calorie range you try to stay within? Thx.

Hey

39, 2.5 years after sleeve. I reach most days 1700-2000 cal.

Sent from my M2102J20SG using BariatricPal mobile app

[PolkSDA 116]

At 11.5 months out, I range between 1200 and 1800 per day. Still losing, but at a much slower rate (as expected).