Hey all...

I have become slightly obsessed with calories at this point. yesterday marked exactly two weeks since surgery and I've been on mushies for a week and I am to start filtering in soft foods.

I've lost roughly 31 pounds since surgery, so I am happy with my progression so far, but I am worried about my intake down the road.

For more than a week now, I'm consuming 800-1000 calories. Never ever more than 1090. I think you all are significantly less than this. I find the 1000 calories to keep me VERY satisfied without feeling "too full" or "bloated" and I am not hungry in the least. When I was consuming less (around the 600-700 mark), I felt tired and lethargic. Now, I'm full of energy. The dietician and my doctor said to listen to my body.

Sounds fine, right?

You should know, I do not start exercising until next Monday and I have a desk job. Pretty sedentary lifestyle.

I am DEEPLY concerned that the majority of you seem to consume far less than me. I am wondering if I am in need of fill or some more self-control. I feel like the band is working, because there is no way on earth I could ever consume this little pre-op. I'm also concerned how something like this will affect my weight loss down the road... will it be easier to cut down on calories more if I weigh less? How do you all view 1000 calories versus weight loss? Is it possible that I have a faster metabolism or do you all think that most of my weight loss thus far has been Water weight?

Like I said, I cleared this with my doctor... he says listen to your body. But, I'm seeking personal experience and wisdom from you guys.

Thanks a bunch!

I think you'll find that 1000 cal is at the low end of the scale even for bandsters. What's more important is that you are losing on this and feeling satisfied - don't change that just because you think others are eating less! I'm usually at between 1200 and 1400, with occasional days down at 1000 and occasional days up at 1500. Don't worry about the calories so much - do what feels right for you and what helps you continue losing! If you hit a plateau, just ride it for a couple of weeks and see what happens, but if it doesn't start moving for 3-4 weeks, then worry about calories... You've done fantastically with 30lb in 2 weeks!! It took me 3 months to lose that much!

Thank you for the advice and support. THis made me feel a bit better. I was afraid that when you guys saw 1000 calories you'd go, "GASP! YOU PIGGY!" I'm glad to hear you're around 1200-1400 and still losing. That makes me not stressed out by it. There were some days where I would only eat half of my cheese stick because those extra 40 calories were going to put me into the 1100 range. I guess I should chill with the obsession too. Thanks so much for your advice!

Check out this poll: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f9/how-many-calories-day-do-you-eat-24106/

You'll see that 1000-1100 a day is about in the middle, but I think a lot of those who have replied are also in the early post-op stages like you. As you heal and get back onto solid foods properly, you're likely to find the calories go up to about 1200. There was a similar poll running for ages (I'll try to find it) that shows a much higher concentration in the upper ranges (ie more at 1200ish).

PS: Had to laugh about the "GASP! You piggy!" thing - like 1000 calories is overeating in ANYONE's book! Isn't it funny how we put that negative stuff on ourselves. Chin up mate - one of the best things about this band is getting out from under that cloud of thinking and learning how to eat without guilt.

Edited May 23, 200818 yr by Fanny Adams

Hey there,

Your calorie intake is not that bad. Plus, it could be different according to your body composition and individual needs. I don't have a lapband but I work at a lapband surgical clinic and I know that most people's needs differ. If you find that you are able to eat too much you should ask for a fill adjustment. But I wouldn't be concerned over the exact numbers...our nutritionists teach us that it is more about the portion size and amount that you are able to eat at each meal. If you're able to eat more than a cup at each meal, you probably need a fill.

As for being obsessed about calories, I wouldn't give it too much power. I find that a website called Calorie Count Plus takes away the stress and fixation of calorie counting by doing everything electronically. It's free to set up an account, and they pretty much have every food/brand name available. I just like that it does it all for me so I'm not sitting there doing math all day long and stressing about the numbers I am consuming or burning. It's nice to be able to see it all in numbers on the screen throughout the day.

Don't fret!

I do track my calories and try to make 1200. I usually end up more in the 1000 calorie range simply because I insist on healthy food and my intake is restricted.

I record everything and if I wanted to eat a banana split I would but I would record the calories.

I have a digital scale that sits in my breadbox and I weigh my food if it's convenient. I'm not stressed over it. I will never again stress over food.

I think it is good to keep track of your calories. My doctor only has me eating 800 calories a day. It can be hard sometimes, but it has made me look at what I am eating more and the calories in it. I also weigh everything. I use two sites to help me Calorie Counter (Calorie Counter Database - Free Online Diet Program) and The World's Healthiest Foods (WHFoods: The World's Healthiest Foods).

I dont count - I pointed out in another thread that after a lifetime of dieting, I cant really help roughly adding in my head because I know the calorie count of nearly everything, lol, but that's a very inaccurate measurement and I dont do it with a goal in mind, I just do it.

I really dont think the human body is MEANT to eat a certain number of calories every day - to me its no mystery that you count strictly, measure everything and then plateau out, I think it makes more sense to eat more on hungry days, eat less if you're busy or not hungry, our eating really should be all over the place to some degree. Same with it being OK to have more Protein some days than others or sometimes have a very carb filled day and sometimes not if you happen to want Pasta for dinner.

Works for me, anyway, lol. Oh, and I too am a "big" eater by bandster standards, I'm up over 1500 calories a day, and I lost weight eating that much too. And I started with a BMI of 35 so its not really to do with having more than others to lose.

I think that dieting behaviour is strictly personality driven and some people really can and do want to count, measure and record for ever after, which is fine, for me, that sort of thing reinforces dysfunctional food obsession and I'm way better off eating what I want, when I want it. For the most part, my choices are healthy and until I'm hungry again, I forget about food. I dont "diet".

Edited May 27, 200818 yr by Jachut

*cues Beaches music and sings to Jachut* Have I ever told you, you're my heeeeerooooooooooooo... :sad:

I don't so much control how much I eat, calorie wise, but I keep track of it, cause I didn't get morbidly obese by guessing accurately how much I ate. :sad:

What I am noting is that I have a couple of three hundred calorie days a week (at least) and that isn't particularly healthy.

rewmember, if you reduce your calories to much, your body will respond by slowing down the metabolism. This will hurt your weight loss efforts in the long run. Eating to little is just as bad as eating to much.

My doctor told me he didn't want me obsessing and counting calories, fat grams, carbs, etc. He didn't want me trading one obsessing for another. He said part of the behaviour modification with the band is improve the quality of life. Obsessing to him is not quality. I agreed, and that's why I chose him. I like his philosophy. He is not anti carbs, he is not into weighing every day, he is not an advocate of calorie counting. He's more about good solid nutrition and portion size, and REGULAR exercise. His putting my HEALTH (physical AND mental) as a priority, instead of the scales is admirable. It's working for me. I've lost 55 pounds in 6 months and feel like a normal person.

I'm living proof that too few calories is NOT useful. I have begun a fairly intense workout with a trainer 5 days a week. I was eating about 800 cals a day and in 10 days lost NOTHING. Talk about losing motivation fast! My trainer asked me what I was eating(he probably thought McDonalds twice a day, lol) and said it was not enough. I bumped it up to 1000-1200 and have lost 6-7 pounds in a week. My body wanted to shed the weight but apparently couldn't because it didn't think I was getting enough.

Oh, I asked my doc about this at my fill yesterday and he said that was fine and that there is no standard that works for everyone. He also said that the extra calories should be mostly protein.