Calorie Conundrum

Calorie Conundrum

Ok, so it's been 6 months since my VSG and I've lost 64lbs! Woo hoo! 255 SW --> 191 CW and I feel amazing.

Problem: The last three months I've only lost about 5-6lbs each month, and then last month, I lost 4. (The first 3 months I lost at least 10lbs.) I got really nervous and started religiously tracking every bite again, something I had sort lost track of doing in Septmber-ish. Still making good choices and eating on plan, but not tracking.

So I sit down with my tracker and realize I've been 1000-1150 calories on the last couple days - meaning for the last couple months, I've been eating a LOT more calories than I thought (still good calories, but a calorie is a calorie). Besides feeling really stupid that I let the tracking wither away - even though my NUT specifically told me that I don't need to track every bite, just eat protein first and the restriction will do the rest - clearly these were too many calories. I had recently started adding GenePro to my morning coffee, sugar-free pudding, etc. in case the reason my loss was slow was because I wasn't getting enough protein. But a scoop of GenePro is 98 calories!

Also, I started Couch25K last month and have been running 3x/week for the last 3 weeks. According to an online calculator, I burn 300 calories per 30 minute session.

So my issue is this: while NOT exercising, clearly 1100 calories is too many. Now I'm exercise and really struggling to keep my calories to 800. This site seems to give 800 calories as the average for those in the weight-loss phase. But now Iâ??m 6 months out and my capacity is a little bigger; I can have 3oz of salmon, for example, when I used to only able to eat about 1.5-2oz. This, of course, adds calories. I'm really really trying to be careful, but I still feel hungry! For the last couple days I haven't been able to get below 900. And if I'm burning 300 calories 3x/week, does that make those days 600 calorie days? Is that too few calories? The scale isn't really moving very well, though I am right before my period and usually lose a good few pounds when it starts.

I'm just super confused and don't want to mess this up after only 6 months. I want to keep losing and losing more quickly than I am. How can I best go about doing that - but at the same time, keep myself from becoming obsessive and anxious about every bite I put in my mouth...one of the reasons I got the VSG in the first place? I don't want to have had this surgery AND feel deprived/hungry all the time. And right now, I'm hungry! I don't need a lot of food, but even eating a cheese stick is 80 more calories, and I'm already over 900 for today (counting the dinner I haven't eaten yet).

Any and all advice and help would be appreciated. I emailed my NUT but if she doesn't respond I'll place a call in tomorrow as well.

Whew!! You are going thru the ringer-congrats on your weight loss, I am only 6 wks out this week, but know someone on here with give you some advice!! Dee

Weigh, measure & track seems to be the way to go for now & for the long-run. You've seen how fast those calories can add up. And don't get into the mindset that if you exercise you can eat more. It just defeats the purpose of burning those calories.

Hi,

Sorry you are hungry! Are you sure it is real hunger vs head hunger? Also, if you read this board regularly, GERD sometimes feels like hunger so using some sort medication like Prilosec can be helpful if GERD is the root cause.

Here are a few of my thoughts but I really don't have practice advising others. Take what is useful, discard what isn't. I hope you hear from your NUT soon and that your cycle starts and you drop a few deserved pounds.

Don't fall into the trap of eating back any of your activity calories.

I consider cheese to be a slider food. Not a bad food, but a food that adds calories and without staying power.

Just cause you can eat more, doesn't mean you should. Personally, I struggle with "enough." Generally, I keep to 2.5-3 oz of protein.

I rarely drink my protein because it doesn't keep me full as long as regular food. I like chewing, too, which plays a part of satiety for me.

Different proteins fill me more than others. 2.5 oz chicken satisfies longer than 3 oz of salmon. By the way, shrimp is protein packed and is very low cal.

I eat about 520-560 calories per day and have for many months. I am pretty active. My NUT says I am not killing myself with low cal. (I literally asked her this.) I'm relatively short: 5'3.5" if you want to compare. While I have hit the top of my healthy BMI, I am still in weight loss phase.

I weigh and track everything. I do this TO KEEP MY VSG SUCCESSFUL! VSG does not save me from some of the root causes of my obesity! I am not (usually) obsessive because it is so routine that there isn't as much to obsess about. This keeps my portions from creeping up because the scale shows me what is enough since my eyes and brain are unable to.

Best wishes, I feel your frustration!

HiJack !!!

Shel25..........You are so on point and your results reflect your approach and effort !!!!

Way to go !!!

frisco

Hey thanks! While I have a supportive nut, much of my approach and effort was molded by reading a shocking amount of past OH posts.

Congratulations on reaching your healthy BMI! Can ask what a sample menu looks like to keep it to 520-560 calories? Also how many grams of protein are you getting? Always open to learning people's tips and tricks.... Thanks ...You are so right about not eating your activity calories - a trap for sure...

Thanks! I am freaking amazed to be in this position 11 months after surgery!

I'm pretty religious about getting at least 60g protein in. I haven't looked at this before (thanks for asking!) but here are daily protein averages for the last 4 weeks: 61, 64, 63, 65. Obviously I am a bare minimum kind of gal, for better or worse.

Here is today --- it is a "late" day for my work schedule so it feels like there is an extra illegal meal at the end. But the numbers work out.

5-9am

2 tablespoons 1/2 and 1/2 in my coffee

1 oz lox

3 oz tuna sashimi

10am-5pm

1/2 oz frozen cherries

1 oz ellenos unsweetened greek yogurt (you can order this on-line by the way. Or, if you live in Seattle RUN RUN RUN to get some!)

2.5oz chipotle (my own, not the restaurant) pork tenderloin

1 tablespoonful 1/2 and 1/2 in coffee

5-7pm

2.5 oz chipotle pork tenderloin (I have lots of this pre-portioned in my freezer)

7-10pm

1 egg plus 1 oz spinach plus 2.5 oz ****ake plus 0.2 tablespoon olive oil

Daily Macro Totals: 550kcal, 69g protein, 21g carbs, 23g fat

Nice! Thanks...

Shel25, do you have a suggestion for how to cook pork tenderloin?  I was thinking of doing the same thing, but I've never cooked it well in the past.