Calorie intake for men

I know there are lots of posts on this already, but I wanted some responses that are specific to men (possibly younger/active men?).  Just curious what your calorie intake looks like both post-op (say at 3-6 months) as well as maintenance (1+ years out)?

I'm currently on my pre-op diet, restricting to 1700-2000 calories per day (don't count carbs, but what I do eat is whole grain) and 40 minutes of cardio per day.  This diet works well for me (at my current weight), and I've lost 15 lbs in 2 weeks.  4 years ago I did this same diet and lost 60 lbs.  I still eat large quantities of food, but all healthy and low calorie.

I realize that after the VSG my intake will go waaaaaay down.  Can this low-cal intake negatively affect metabolism?  And how much should I expect my calorie intake to be reduced just from carrying less weight around?

Your metabolism will slow based upon your body mass going down and your calorie intake going down. The best way to keep it as high as possible to to take your vitamins and do exercises to increase muscle mass. 

This is metabolic surgery, not just making your stomach smaller. There are lots of metabolic, hormonal, and endocrine changes. Most people have diabetes go into remission, and that has nothing to do with weight loss. Your metabolism should actually get better.

There are lots of calorie estimators online, but be aware that they are ballpark figures. They could be way off. Put in your age, height, gender, and your current weight, and then your goal weight, and compare what it says your calorie needs should be.

My daily calories are pretty much exactly what they should be for my height, weight, and activity level.

Men are a little scarce around here, so you might not get a flood of responses.

Curious, I wonder why many of us men post on this website? Is it that less men get surgery or are we more to keep our WLS struggles to ourselves?

I had that showerthought this morning :D

It's a bit of both. My surgeon said the ratio of women to men getting WLS is about 2-1. My local support group is probably 8-1 women.

Sounds like a good way to meet a future wife for sure.

Thanks for your insight!

It would certainly take the edge off having to explain why you only at 3 bites of food during the diner date.

two months from surgery averaging 600 cals per day (minimal to zero carbs, lost interest in food (I am one of the fortunate ones) I exercise for 1.5 hours cardio and strength 5-6 days per week.

Feeling great, meds halved, but have to emphasize find a support group, and I personally use MFP when anything goes in my mouth and its also weighed or bar code scanned.

I wish you well

D

We have a poster "JustPete". He lost 200 pounds, and excerses to the extreme. He is nothing but skin, bones, and a whole lot of hunky muscle now. He has to eat 4,000 calories just to maintain and struggles at times to get all of that in. He is an extreme IMHO though due to his crazy high commitment to both hardcore exercise and clean eating. Great role model if you are looking for one!

you'll probably be under 1k cals after VSG while losing.  this 1700-2k you are on now will likely be close your maintenance range if you keep working your muscles through the process.  but it's all incredibly variable depending on how you lose and what you do for exercise.  metabolism isn't a static thing and it's not fixed based on your surgery or body weight.  muscle mass and activity as well as how much/what kind of food you eat determines where you will end up.  I'm a gym rat and spend 5 days a week lifting weight now at 2+ years out and my calories have steadily increased along with my muscle mass (I need 3500 to maintain now).