calories

How many calories are we suposed to have in a day?  I forgot to ask the nurse today.  How many do you intake in a day?

Hey Marsha!

I have asked the same question but the doc won't give an answer. They keep telling me to still with the meal plan and measuring my food and calories should never be an issue. I have counted and I do about 1000-1200 a day. That is mostly from proteins of course. Hope that helps?!!

I asked Janelle at my 6 month check up and she said 800. I said "for life?"  She said "ya."   I don't trust that AT ALL!  

There are calculators on many different sites - I've played with the one on thedailyplate.com, it's pretty interesting.  Gives you numbers if you want to lose, maintain, or gain.

But PNC doesn't focus on calories, either.  It's more about the portion size and quality of food (PROTEIN FIRST!) that we eat. 

And yeah, 800 seems unhealthy.  Initially for losing the weight?  Okay.  But at some point, it seems the body sees that as starvation and decides to hang on to what it's got - which can be a cause for plateau.  UP your calories from there a bit, and you just might start losing again!  I know that sounds convoluted, but at about a year or so out, I went through that very issue.  And adding calories, HEALTHY calories, jump-started my weight loss!

I haven't counted a calorie in 6 1/2 years...since the day of my surgery.  I focus on the quantity and quality of the food.  Same as Darla.  To me, counting calories is like dieting.  I'm not dieting anymore.  This is how I live now.  And it's worked for me as I'm still hanging in there at goal.

Marsha:

I agree with what the other posters said about protein first and the quality of food you consume, but I would also like to make one addition: factoring in exercise.  When I have bothered to check, I usually take in 2000 to 2500 calories per day when I expend 500 to 1000 calories per day on exercise, so for me at 225 lbs, the net calories I get  usually are in the 1,500 to 2,000 per day range.  It seems to work for me, although it is higher than what my surgery program recommends for the average WLS patient.  I guess I am not average.

RP

Hi sweetie....my doctor isn't interested in calories either. He still wants me measuring and eating only one cup of food at a meal....mostly protein.

I did read somewhere that in order for me to lose I shouldn't have more then 1325 calories a day. To maintain not more then 1825 per day.

I hope all is going well with you....wow... did summer fly by!!

Love you much....hugs....connie d