calories per day

When I went for my check up, the nurse practitioner had a fit when I said that I sometimes eat up to 1,500 calories per day without realizing it until I write it down. She told me that I shouldn't physically be able to eat more than 800 calories per day. I reminded her I was 16 month post-op and she said that I still shouldn't be able to eat this much unless I was only eating soft foods. I'm very carb sensitive so it's not cake and cookies but I do eat junk like chips and pretzels. How many calories per day do you eat now? I've had a terrible time losing and it's part of the reason I don't post here much. I had the lap band in 2003 and only lost 40#, converted to bypass in 2005 and lost 44 more.

Laura: I was told the same thing by my bariatric center. I was told that we should not be consuming any more than 700 to 800 calories per day. Sometimes I can, and I can go to excess and eat 1500 like you and some days, I am lucky to get in 300 or 400 It is my personal experience and thoughts that we are all different and will consume what is right for our bodies. If you are not happy with your weight loss, then try to modify what you are doing now. See what it will take to get you back to the losing side safely. I have lost 185 pounds in 16 months now and want to get my last 19 off. I will not stop until I reach my own personal goal. I have passed the expectation of my doctors 60 pounds ago. Keep up the faith, You can do it. You will do it, you are going to do it. You are a winner no matter what as you have taken matters into your own hands. Good luck, Rae

Rae! You have done fantastically well! I have not been on the April '05 board for quite a few months. I remember you when we first started. I wish you well. Judy

When I saw my nutritionist recently her goal for me was 1200 calories per day to continue to lose weight and stay nutrionally sound. I also had a med gem test to determine what my resting metabolic rate was. I think caloric intake varies from person to person due to metabolic rate, exercise frequency, and types of food eaten. I realize that most of the time carbs are really easy to eat and digest but for the most part they really are empty calories. If you must have carbs (and sometimes we must ) eat them early in the day so you can work them off as you day goes by. Try meat and veggies for dinner. Hope this helps! Teresa 390/178/150

i don't lose weight on less than 1000 calories. everytime i went below i would plato. i think everyone is different, but less than 1000 calories can't be nutritionally complete. i eat 1400- 1600 and maintain my weight w/ very little exercise. if i add exercise i lose 2-5 pounds a month. i am 1.5 yrs post-op. lost 120#

Thanks for all the responses. You have given me hope! I'm still gaining and losing the same 5 pounds lately but I've got to get off my butt and exercise.

When I was a year out from surgery my doc said to eat between 1000 and 1500 calories a day and to assume that I was done losing. I have lost about 160 lbs. I am still about 40 lbs overweight according to the charts but I am far from the 350 lbs mark that I started at. Good luck!