How many calories should I be eating 3.5month post op gastric sleeve?

Keep seeing different amounts online. Had surgery abroad so the after care isn’t the best either.

Also macros?

I don’t know weather I’m eating too much or too little I’m a slow loser and have stalled for 4 weeks.

Hiya!

I think you and I are around the same post op. I had my surgery 1/24, the macros and calories are all over the place. The main thing is to get at least 80g of protein, and 64oz of water/liquids.

My plan says 60-80g of Protein, Less than 130g of Carbs, Max 40g of Fat. 3-6months is about 800 cal/day,

I have not followed that to a T. I have been at about 1000 calories a day, My carbs I keep less than 50g, Fat is usually under 20g. I work out 5days a week. If your losing then I am sure your going great!

The reason you are seeing so many different numbers is because there are so many factors involved in how many calories you should be eating. This will be especially true the further you get out and as your try to figure out your maintenance calories (And other macros). If at all possible, I would reach out to your team but if not I suggest that you see a dietician locally to discuss your specifics. Just be sure they are someone who has dealt with people who had your surgery.

Edited May 9, 20242 yr by ShoppGirl

I had my 3-month post-op appointment with my dietician today. She wanted to see 80g or more of protein with 40% of daily calories from protein, and at least 64oz water. Those are the only set numbers I was given, although we added up all the macros for a typical day from my journal and it came to around 900 calories, 91g protein, 78g carb, and 29g fat. The fat and carb percentage were roughly 30% each of my daily calories. She said that was very reasonable for this stage and that calories would slowly increase over time.

I was also told I could pretty much eat any type of food now, but she cautioned me about sirloin steak and very fibrous foods like asparagus (the woody stalks, not the soft tips) and pineapple as probably being a bit too tough. But she encouraged me to add in raw veggies and to move away from protein powder as much as possible.

Another reason you'll see programs not focusing on calorie counting is because people can make poor choices that way (or am I the only one who used to eat celery for lunch so I could have a big piece of cake and technically not exceed my calorie goals?). If you're choosing a small plate (I use a dessert/bread size plate) and fill one half with lean protein (3-4oz), and the other half with veggies, go easy on the fatty and sugary sauces, and stop eating at the first sign of fullness (for me, that would be hiccups), you will hit the recommendations without really having to stress over counting anything.

I was never given calories either. Just the 60g protein & that I should be eating about a cup of food by 6 months. I due random checks of calories for my own interest & I was barely eating 900 calories but as @ShoppGirl said there are many factors that influence how many calories you need.

Factors like age, gender, height, activity levels, etc. I too suggest getting in contact with your team. They know you best & can advise you better for your needs, Stalls happen & can happen several times. Though we usually say they last 1-3 weeks, it’s not unusual for them to last longer.

Out of curiosity do you track your food & know your calorie & macro intake? What are your portion sizes like?

Remember too, your portions sizes & number of calories you need do increase as you progress. For example at 18 months I was eating about 1300 to maintain & now at almost 5 years I eat about 1600 to maintain the same weight. And my portions are around 3-4ozs protein & a good cup or more of steamed vegetables.

I’m usually at about 1000 calories. 80-100g Protein. My carbs are around 60-70g but I do eat fruit like strawberries/red grapes.

Am I eating too much as I’ve not lost for 4 weeks. Started at 249lbs I’m now 210lbs. Should I maybe eat less fruit and cut calories to 800?

you might just be in a long-ish stall. You should be losing even at 1000 calories a day, so unless you're undercounting, you're probably in a long stall. I'd give it another week or two.

6 hours ago, hayleymarie2703 said:

I’m usually at about 1000 calories. 80-100g Protein. My carbs are around 60-70g but I do eat fruit like strawberries/red grapes.

Am I eating too much as I’ve not lost for 4 weeks. Started at 249lbs I’m now 210lbs. Should I maybe eat less fruit and cut calories to 800?

First, a long stall between 3 to 6 months is totally normal and the type of thing doctors should tell us to expect. But weight loss surgery is a game changer. This is no longer about calorie restriction to force your body to shed some weight, and if you think about it logically, it's impossible that your body is carrying out all its bodily functions on less than 1000 calories per day. It's burning fat, and also shifting fluids which account for a lot of what the scale reports to you as weight.

If someone who had not had surgery said I will only 800 calories, you would be concerned for their health. I say this as someone who is in a similar place mentally and emotionally as you are after stalling again for 9 days: you have to stop the dieting mentality.

Calorie restriction got you nowhere before and it will do nothing but hinder you now. Stop counting calories, especially if your team does not require it. Stop weighing yourself. Focus on eating protein, veggies, fruit, beans, nuts, and seeds. Focus on avoiding artificial sweeteners, processed foods, and simple carbs. Focus on creating sustainable habits and getting the right balance of foods every time you eat. Weigh yourself in a week. Or a month. This isn't about the scale or what you lose from day to day. It's about getting healthy for the rest of your life. It'll happen but you need to step back and not drive yourself crazy over it.