Did any of your Doctor's talk about calories? I've never heard my providers talk about amount of calories after the surgery and i've been curious about that? Wouldn't there still be a certain amount needed for nutrition or do things work differently for us now?

I think everyone is different, I don't believe my doc gave me a set number.. but I weened down on calories (as you lose weight, you need more caloric deficiency).. I think I started about eating 2,000 calories a day, then a couple months/couple pounds later I went to 1,800 a day, and so on.. till I got to about 1,200-1,400 calories a day, with a day a week (roughly) where I had as much as 1,800.

It all depends on you and your body. I do not have a set amount of calories to 'aim for.' I just eat until I am full, since I am at my 'sweet spot.' Each person needs a different amount of calories for weight loss and maintenance. If I add it up, on a daily basis, I only eat about 1000 calories per day, and am currently losing weight at a VERY slow pace because I am nearing my goal weight. Even when you hit your goal and are in the maintenance phase, you will probably eat less calories than a 'normal' person. A lot of bandsters maintain their weight at about 1200 calories per day.

I started out at 800-1000 post banding until about 2 months out where I kept plateauing.

I then raised it to between 950-1200 and that has kept me losing steadily through most of my weight loss. Whenever I tried to adjust downwards to kickstart my weightloss, I would stall. This has been the best caloric weight loss level for my body/metabolism/fitness level.

I am now up to 1200-1800 calories due to being pregnant but am maintaining at that level.

This is how you live your life. My doctor is aiming for portion control and smart choices, not calorie counting. Frankly, I've "been there, done that". I go NUTS if I have to count every freaking bite I eat! LOL That's the beauty of the band, however; it is your tool You use it to suit your style. My doctor bans all snacking, and that is working for me.

This is how you live your life. My doctor is aiming for Portion Control and smart choices, not calorie counting. Frankly, I've "been there, done that". I go NUTS if I have to count every freaking bite I eat! LOL That's the beauty of the band, however; it is your tool You use it to suit your style. My doctor bans all snacking, and that is working for me.

I know my calorie levels in general, but I only count them and track when I hit a plateau or gain a little. It gets me back on track. Other than the first month after banding, I have never kept daily track for more than 1 1/2 weeks at the most.

The tracking only gives me a quick feel for how I am doing, and if I am overindulging or snacking, I hate tracking that so much that I stop eating it and after about a week I am back in the right "frame of mind." I think most of this weight loss battle, at least for me, is in my mind.

For me, I go by feel 90%+ of the time.

Restless Monkey, I havent come across your posts for a while because I had been traveling abroad for an extended period and not online so much. You are doing awesome at 40+ pounds down in a few short months. You always give such excellent advice and I have really missed your posts :0)

Restless Monkey, I havent come across your posts for a while because I had been traveling abroad for an extended period and not online so much. You are doing awesome at 40+ pounds down in a few short months. You always give such excellent advice and I have really missed your posts :0)

HEATHERO! :drool:

I have been in a foreign land...NURSING SCHOOL LOL

this semester is insane. Literally insane! I have missed your posts, too. I don't have much restriction yet but am just really working at learning the behavior modification (no Snacks, eat slow) that I'll be trying to use the rest of my life. Change is hard! But I am happy to be losing:)

Missed you a lot, woman!

Great info on the calories, I wasn't sure about that either. My other thought though, is protein vs. grams of fat.... Like my doctor always tells me that I should be having like nuts or something for protein, but for like 13 grams of protein, there is 25 grams of fat in it? Is fat content something that I should still be worried about, or just the protein?

My nutritionist stated around 1,200 when I am on solid foods. I am still on liquids. But I really don't recall my doctor telling me how many calories.

I know my calorie level in general because like most women my age, I grew up dieting and calorie counting! But I try not to actually count! for me, I wanted to leave that behind forevever.

However, I know I eat about 1500 a day. I dont do high Protein partly because of the fat that comes with it - I'm not necessarily afraid of fat or believe I have to avoid it alltogether but I try to get the right kinds and i keep my overall fat content lower by eating a diet based more on complex carbs than protein. Works for me.

I think its impossible to pigeonhole everyone, your calorie level and your nutritional balance depends on YOUR needs and that's really why whatever your doc tells you has to be taken with a grain of salt