Post op calories per day?

[mcipanda 121]

I had my VSG on Monday (5 days post op now) and on full liquids. I was given Protein and fluid goals, but nothing else. Did you have calorie goals/restrictions during each phase (clear, full, purée, soft)?

[Hop_Scotch 1,627]

No I didn't receive any calorie goals or restrictins for post op phases. While some may have, from what I have seen on here, its most Protein and fluids goals and for some people there may have been carbs targets or limits.

[Jonathan Carlson 66]

I only got Protein and Fluid goals!

[SleeverSk 621]

Don't worry about calories at this stage you will be getting such small amounts of food in the calories will be minimal

[Arabesque 6,565]

I didn’t get calories either. Did get portion size for from purée (1/4 - 1/3 cup slowly increasing to a cup). If you’d feel more comfortable & confident with some some calorie guidelines for from purée/soft food on, ask your dietician for some that will best complement you & your needs (we’re all different).

[mzulli 6]

I didn’t get a calorie goal until my 3-month post-op visit.

[mcipanda 121]

Thanks everyone, the liquid Protein Shakes take me a while to drink but are getting easier. I need to get three per day (60-80g protein). Three shakes total about 450-500 calories. If I have some thinned yogurt, SF pudding or Soup broth, the calories go up to 600 or so. I reached out to my dietician but she probably won’t respond until Monday.

[ChubRub 1,700]

Just chiming in to say that I also was never given a calorie goal in the beginning. I was loosely given a Protein goal, but even that the nurse said no to worry about it in the beginning as you are taking in such small amounts, it's hard to get it all in.

More importantly, congratulations on your surgery and welcome to the other side!!! You are probably still full of IV fluids, so once you start peeing your brains out, you will be shedding weight like never before!!! Best of luck to you!!!

[mcipanda 121]

45 minutes ago, ChubRub said:

More importantly, congratulations on your surgery and welcome to the other side!!! You are probably still full of IV fluids, so once you start peeing your brains out, you will be shedding weight like never before!!! Best of luck to you!!!

Thank you! 😊 the peeing comment totally made me laugh out loud!

[Boofaloo 1]

I wasn't given a calorie goal but I've been up to 1000 calories and walking 1 hour at 2 1/2 weeks. Everything I find on the internet says 300 to 600 calories! Am I eating too much? Ugh...I don't want to mess this up

[mcipanda 121]

18 hours ago, Boofaloo said:

I wasn't given a calorie goal but I've been up to 1000 calories and walking 1 hour at 2 1/2 weeks. Everything I find on the internet says 300 to 600 calories! Am I eating too much? Ugh...I don't want to mess this up

I never did get an answer to my calories question… my nutritionist just reiterated that the calories matter less as long as the following are true:

- get your 70-90 grams of Protein per day no matter what (I am in soft foods stage)

- get your 64oz of fluids every day (and I’m allowed to count Protein Shakes and milk as fluids)

- no more than 5g fat per serving

- no more than 5g sugar per serving

When I watch these rules, I end up with around 700-850 calories per day and I’m steadily losing. If I don’t get enough protein or Water, I stall over the next two days.

Oddly, I noticed that if I drink artificially sweetened things like Gatorade Zero, I stall out. She said I may be insulin sensitive where my brain sees the fake sweetener as the real thing and releases insulin to counter it. I try to have maybe one of these drinks every two days to get my Miralax in. Not sure if any of this helps but I hope there’s a nugget in here that adds some value 😊

[Boofaloo 1]

It does! Thank you! I think I'm the same with sugar free drinks...

[Arabesque 6,565]

This is one of the negatives of artificial sweeteners. Because your body tastes sweet it reacts as if sugar is being consumed & available to be used as an energy source hence the insulin reaction. The body also reacts by storing calories because there actually wasn’t any sugar which results in weight gain. (There are academic papers on this if you’re interested.) And of course artificial sweeteners continue to feed your desire for sweet. Your body needs some sugar (as glucose, fructose, lactose, etc.) as an energy source. Look for natural sources not ‘added sugars’. I get mine from fruit - blueberries predominately - and keep my added sugar intake to less than 10g a day total (usually only 5g). But it has been my choice to continue this from maintenance.

Edited April 8, 2023 by Arabesque