Questions about Calories

HELLO...

I just have a few questions about calories.

1. How many calories should I be aiming for 5-6 months post op VSG?
2. Is it true in order to lose weight we have to be in a caloric deficit? I do not know if this applies to WLS patients?

Thanks in advance!

Check with your surgeon about nutritional requirements, but most folks tend to shoot for 600 - 800 calories, 60 - 80g protein, under 40 carbs.

Caloric defect applies to everybody, WLS included. Take in fewer calories than you expend. Weight stays the same if they're the same, you gain if you eat more than you burn (exercise + base metabolic rate).

1. At 5 -6 months out I was eating about 800 calories per day. After 6 months I transitioned to 1000-1100 calories per day.
2. Yes, you must be in a caloric deficit to lose weight, that is true for virtually every animal on the planet. Do you know what your maintenance level of calories is and how to calculate an appropriate deficit?

White Dove posted that our maintenance calories are  10x your weight. So if you weigh 140 your maintenance calories are 1400. To lose a lb a week you would drop 500 calories from that which would be 900.

    I was eating about 500 - 600 calories when I was 5-6 months out if I remember right. I eat about 700-800 a day now. I am pretty small already so I do not need a lot of calories right now. I am heading down to the lowest BMI I can get to this year. I want to arrive at the 18% body fat and then build muscle over that to help as much as possible with the bounce back.

Thanks for posting this topic.  I know my doctor also says 600- 800 calories a day. I had my surgery 7 months ago and 15 pounds till goal but my problem is that I get nervous when I go over 500 calories that I'm eating to much.  I also find I don't lose any faster eating 500 calories and I often get light headed.  

This is what worked for me:  At 5-6 months post-op I hadn't quite lost all my excess weight yet.  I had to stick to around 850-900 calories to lose consistently. 

If you stick to that, you will be in a calorie deficit.  Your body will burn more than 900 calories a day to survive.  It will pull those excess calories from your fat stores.