HOW MANY CALORIES DO YOU THINK I SHOULD BE EATING?

I am three years out and eating 1200 - 1400 calories a day, drinking a  minimum of 64 oz. of water every day, getting 80-100 grams of protein every day, exercising 3-5 times a week, and have AGAIN stopped losing weight.  I stay at a weight for a while and then drop a bit, and then stay at that weight or maybe go up a pound, then lose, and back and forth.  Frustrating! How many calories should I be eating a day?  If I go below 1200 I get way too hungry.  HELP! Thanks. Pam

Pam I was never given a calorie range.  I was told to eat 79 grams of protien and no more thn 37 grams of fat a day with a minimum of 64 oz of water. It may also depend on the exercize type and length of session, how many calories your burning.  On the days you exercise do you do more protien and water intake?  I was told that helps. Personally.  I just did the 5 day pouch test, and it is the best thing I did for myself .  I was on a 3 month stall.  I was starting to stress eat because I felt like I was failing.  I was consuming too many carbs and too much sugar.  This helped alot.  I am back to my "prescribed" program and have dropped 7 pounds.     Hope this helps Pam

Hi Pam, As an oldie, I also was told to make sure protein was my first priority, other than the liquids, consumed before or after meals by 30 minutes. I also was told between 60-80 grams of protein and to limit my fat as the primary concerns. I was told by different people different things- One told me to eat 5-6 "mini" meals all day, the other said 3 meals and one snack if needed. I do realize if I don't get in my protein, no matter how I need to "stuff" it in, I don't lose unless I get enough of that. I have bad memories with protein drinks, so although those would probably help me, convincing my brain to do so is another story. I always eat my protein first, and then go to veges and followed by fruits. Stress can make your weight loss stall- I was doing really well for the last few months,UNTIL, now I have a daughter graduation, deciding to start college the end of June, son who my husband has decided is going to play 3-4 golf tournaments a week(guess who gets to drive to those?) getting the house in order for open house for graduation, moving to a lake house for the Summer, and, my family decided we needed another "puppy" which again falls on-- guess who? Stress can be a huge weight-loss demon... There must be something in us internally that, even if we don't stress eat, our bodies just decide, they wants to add to the turmoil, and be a form of stress too.. I know this probably didn't help but, you sound like what you are doing is correct. If you are concerned, don't be afraid to go back and talk to the nutritionist at your surgeon's office, maybe make and appointment to discuss exercise options with the exercise guy/gal.. I do know that for me, (when I convince myself to get out there) that exercise(jogging for me) is a form of relaxation. I feel so much better and less stressed after I am done. Keep chugging along.. The closer we get to our goal, the harder it seems to be. AmyH (wigglypoo)