calories per day?

Hey all - about how many calories is everyone eating per day? my doctor is reluctant to give a number. i'm trying to get in my 50g of protein but for me to do that i often go up to about 550 calories a day. btw - if you're trying to keep track of caloric intake a great tool is fitday.com. it helps me track fat, calories, and protein! Deb

Hi there Deb, I think 550 calories is fine, if anything too little calories. Remember our bodies are healing still and you need to give it the energy (protein) to do that. I'm not a doctor tho, so whatever your doctor says to do...do. How are you doing with your water? I get close to 64 oz a day but the bottle practically never leaves my hand that way!! I used to love cold water, now it has to be room temperature or my belly lets me know it doesn't like it and I have a little belly ache until the water warms up in there!! fitday.com...I'm a little intimidated by that but need to jump right in I suppose. How's food going down for you? or are you getting the protein in mostly by protein shakes? I'm experimenting now. I've pureed chicken, ground beef, mashed potatoes (then put a little flavorless protein powder in it), carrots and cottage cheese. I tried scrambled cheese eggs but felt like there was a pack of cement in my belly for about 12 hours afterwards!!!! I guess I'm not quite ready for eggs yet. But it's good to know that later I'll have a protein source that sticks to my ribs so to speak! Glad to hear you're doing well. Good Luck in the days to come! Sue

Hi there! I am getting in around 700-800 calories a day give or take. I do 3 protien drinks along with cream soups and SF pudding. Of course I don't get much soup or pudding in but I like it so far. I am still on full liquids until Wednesday then I can start the pureed foods. I have been using fitday for years dieting and it is a very good tool to help keep track of your daily intake. Keep us posted on how you are doing. I had my first check up last week and lost 11.5 lbs how exciting!! Kim

Thank you both for your responses. I'm so neurotic right now - I keep thinking that I'm the ONLY person this won't work for. Which of course is ridiculous but still. like if i eat 600 calories instead of 500 i won't lose weight. yeah right. I'm moving away from protein drinks (as per my dr.) they want us to get in more solids but it is hard. i had a spoonful of tuna today - which was sooooo yummy. scary huh? re: liquids - I am having a tough time getting in all my liquids. i do not make 64 oz a day. although right now i have about 31 ounces in so i could come close which would make me happy. water for some reason doesn't sit right for me right now so i have been doing conncotions - i mix 4 oz of water, 2 oz of oj and 4 oz of minute maid lite together and that satisfies my taste buds and my tummy. I'm getting to know me all over again i guess. Kim when was your surgery? wow 11.5 lbs! I don't own a scale and probably for my sanity shouldn't get one (it's 11AM now, have i lost weight since 9AM?) but i'm dying to know how much i've lost so far. its been almost two weeks. anyway, yay to all of us! Deb

Hey Deb, I had surgery the same day you did on July 6. I had to go back to the Dr. a week after to bee checked and I had lost 11.5 lbs. I don't think I have lost that much this week but I will take what I get. I go to my pcp this Friday and will see what a weigh then. I am going to try not to become addicted to the scale but I know it will keep me honest by checking in once a week on it. We all have that fear of 'I am going to be the only one the surgery doesn't work.' Try not to stress over it too much it will work. Just remember we are still healing and in time we will get used to everything and it will become second nature for us. Good luck with your fluids and just sip sip sip. Keep up the good work and keep us posted on how your doing. Kim