Answer this question first before reading my response!

What is the minimum number of calories you should consume to avoid metabolic slowdown? How can you combat a slow metabolism?

Here is my answer.

What is the minimum number of calories you should consume to avoid metabolic slowdown? How can you combat a slow metabolism?

The medical field is pretty sure now that when caloric intake drops down to around 1100-1200 calories per day, human metabolism will slow down. This is a natural, evolutionary response. Think back to the Caveman again. When humans had to scavenge for food that was not always readily available, our bodies became very efficient at storing energy in the form of fat to tide us through times when we might not be able to eat much for a few days. When food became scarce, our metabolism would slow down in order to conserve energy, at least until food became plentiful again. Typically your body will go into this energy-conserving mode if you drop your caloric intake to around 1100-1200 calories per day. Since a well-adjusted Lap-Band should take you down to around this amount, your body will want to go into hibernation mode. Your job is to keep this from happening. How do you do this, you ask?

With two simple steps:

·Make sure you are getting the best nutrition you can. This means eating real food, avoiding empty calories, preparing fresh meals, and buying organic foods whenever possible. This will give your body all of the micronutrients and building blocks it needs to perform its normal daily chemical reactions that keep us feeling good.

·Exercise. This will keep your metabolism going by releasing natural hormones that control our “fight or flight” response. Ever heard of a “runner’s high?” Sometimes getting started with an exercise routine is tough, but think back about how great you felt after a work out—not just the feeling of accomplishing something, but how energized and alert you were. That’s a natural response. It had very little to do with your expensive gym equipment, your personal trainer with rock hard abs, or your perfectly set iPod tunes. It had everything to do with what a wonderful machine the human body is.

The preceeding was an excerpt from my new book, Ultimate Lap-Band Success:The Support Surgeon's Guide on How to Get More From Your Gastric Band.

If you found it helpful, you can order it now, even before it is available to the general public, if you will send me an email at morefrommyband@gmail.com.

Best of luck,

Dr. Vuong

Edited April 27, 200917 yr by DoctorVuong

so is there a calculator we can use to fins out how many cals we should be eating in a day to lose the 2 pounds a week???

but the perfectly set iPod tunes don't hurt!

so is there a calculator we can use to fins out how many cals we should be eating in a day to lose the 2 pounds a week???

There are TONS on the web. You can use Daily Plate, among many others. These sites will track all of your food nutrients and will do your exercising too.

Thank you for the great advise. I am 53 and waiting to get a band. My metabolism is so slow I have started cycling everyday on a stationary bike. My doctor is trying to convince me to get a bypass but I know I can be successful with a band.

I think HE wants me to have a faster weight loss so he will look good. I am sticking with the band. Thanks for listening.

Karen S.

Edited May 4, 200917 yr by randysgirl
spelling

The doc fails to mention that weight training is a huge part of increasing your metabolism! Dropping weight by diet alone will surely drop muscle mass. You don't want to lose muscle, that will decrease your metabolism. Along with your cardio program, include 3 days of weight training on all your body parts, esp. your largest muscle groups (abs, quads, glute)

so is there a calculator we can use to fins out how many cals we should be eating in a day to lose the 2 pounds a week???

I have an app on my iPhone called "Livestrong" that helps you do this. It's available for Blackberrys too and online at LIVESTRONG.COM - Health, Fitness, Lifestyle

I am 52 (will be 53 in July) and was banded on 4.13.09. I considered the bypass but when I found Dr. Vuong I knew the band was for me. With a great support group and seeing other folks success with the band, I am so glad I had it done!! Gastric by-pass is way too intrusive for me, and the recovery time for banding is very short! I feel absolutely wonderful..good luck Karen, I wish you much success!