Please please reply

Melissa F, an experienced RNYer posted this on the main board in answer to the question "how many calories should I be eating?" Post Date: 1/10/08 6:11 pm up to 4 months was on 400ish 4-6 months 600ish 6-8 months 800ish 8-10 1000ish 10-12 1200 This really blew me away. There is NO WAY I could live on 600 calories a day. I am eating healthy and nutritious...am getting 60-80 grams of protein a day, but am eating between 1000-1200 calories a day. I log everything that goes in to my mouth religiously. I basically have three meals and two snacks. I am losing. Not as fast as I would like but still losing. I am exercising moderately...not as much as I should be. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE REPLY. Are you all really eating only 600 calories a day??? I need to know.....maybe I need to really cut back????

lol...my NUT and surgeon told me if i were eating so little, my body wouldnt have enough calories to even fuel the weight-loss process. I think those numbers are extreme and they wouldn't work for me either...how with so few calories could you be getting all the protein you need???...I think this kind of "diet" mentality during the adjustment phase is what causes the fatigue, hairloss and rebound weight...you CAN'T be healthy and maintain such a low intake... Just relax and do what your surgeon advises...you're losing, so your method is working...no worries! I get between 900-1200 cals a day and am losing steadily, never hungry, no hair loss, great skin and keeping my protein around 100g a day!!! This is per my NUT...lol xxxbecca

I truly don't think it's possible to get the protein we need to be getting and only be consuming 600 calories a day. Whoever told her that is full of chit, I think LOL. If that's doctor-advised, then I'd be questioning the doctor. I get between 900-1000 calories a day and around 85-100g protein. There are days I lack in protein, but not too often. It's the fluids I have trouble with. I hate the feeling it gives me when I drink anything. I can't even describe how I feel when I have fluid in me, but it's not pleasant. Anyone else have this feeling too?

I hear ya...I feel like a fish tank...all sloshy and bubbly...never real pain or nausea...I'm just aware of it for the first few minutes...kinda grosses me out...lol I think cold drinks affect me more than warm or hot...weird huh? is it the same for you? xxxBecca

Hi, I stumbled upon your entry and was struck by yours (and a few others as well) where you say you get between 85-100 gms of protein each day without any problems. This interested me because I struggle to get 65 to 75 grams a day. How do you do it? What are you eating to get such large numbers? Any ideas you pass on will be appreciated.

Hi Bill! Welcome to the August surgery forum! I get my protein in mainly by drinking protein drinks between my meals. I ususally average 15-25 g of protein each meal with food. My main source of protein is in protein drinks. I drink 2-3 of them a day and they range in protein from 15g/8oz to 45 g/8oz. I usually try to buy the highest protein-containing drinks or powders. I hope this helps God bless! Brenda

Hey Bill, I have found that I am able to get half of my protein in with either bullets (GNC 27g) or with Isopure RTD Juice (40g) or Stacker water (20g)...all of which count towards my fluids too...they go down nicely between meals and I firmly believe are part of the reason I have had NO hair loss... I've been supplementing my dense meal proteins with these since my surgery...I actually only have to EAT 50-60g of protein a day... My NUT recommended them and had our support group all sample these early on...I'm addicted now, and unlike the awful shakes...they have so many "juice" flavors...it's such a nice change from the usual... hope this helps! xxxbecca

This is what my NUT said too...I thought she was nuts.

your NUT told you 400 cals for the first 4 months???...did she suggest HOW to get enough protein in with so few cals? I'm a bit confused by this xxxBecca

I was told by my surgeon and nut to at least eat 1000 cals per day not to go over 1200. They said if I didn't eat enough calories and drink enough water I wouldn't lose the weight like I wanted to. As someone else said you have to eat so many calories or our bodies will go into defense mode would think we are starving therefore, storing it instead of getting rid of it. Ask your surgeon or nut they will tell you how much they want you to eat. Good luck dear. Donna