Calorie Counts

Hi All,
I had my band put in about 1.5 weeks ago.  I notice that everyday my calorie count goes up and I get hungrier more often.  For the last two days I have been eating about 600 calories, Ihavent; started excercising yet, but I keep moving by cleaning, shopping etc.  I would love if anyone could share their calorie's per day.  I realize it all depends on each indiviual, but I am terrified that I am going to start gaining back weight if I keep adding calories. 

Hello

Your calorie counts will be low during your post-op diets of liquids and mushies.  Once you are able to eat "normal" meals your calorie count should go up.  You don't want to stay under 1000 calories, especially if you are going to exercise too.  That is not enough calories to feed your body...if you don't give your body enough fuel it will start cannibalizing your muscles and organs to feed your body.  So sure you will lose weight but it will be due to muscle loss and not fat loss.  Your body will fight to keep your fat stores if you eat such a little bit of food.  What you want to do is eat a healthy amount of healthy food and exercise.  You will lose weight  the healthy way by burning up your fat and not your muscle.  

Your muscles are your calorie and fat burning machines of your body.  So if every time you go on a starvation diet you lose some muscle mass...it will be that much harder to continue to lose weight or maintain your weight loss.  It's a vicious circle...you starve yourself to lose weight...you lose muscle...you gain weight back faster the minute you start eating normal...and starve your self again...and each time it's harder to lose and harder to maintain. 

The moral of the story is to eat healthy quantities of quality food and exercise (include weight lifting ,you will want to build up those calorie burning machines). 

I eat around 1200-1400 calories and 40-45 carbs a day.  I exercise 90 minutes a day.   

Hi,
I appreciate your thorough and experienced advice.  I had 4oz of ground turkey today and it felt like a feast!  I see how far you have come and really value your opinion.   I guess my realy problem is that I really don't intuitively know what "healthy" eating looks like.  I am learning it now in my "old age."


Thanks for your response!!

Your input of information is great. Banding on the 27th. I will definetly be back to knock on your door. Katie Keane

Hi Bandita....I am 4 wks out from surgery and I am on any lean meats w/ LF cheese and of course still the liquid if needed and like cottage cheese and stuff.  Anyway at my last appt w/ my doc I got a fill and met w/ a dietican(sp), and they want me on 600-800 calories a day...but I'm not on "full foods" yet either...Good luck!!!!

Hi J,
This is really helpful.  I don't see my nutritionist for another week and have this fear that I am going to screw something up!  Yesterday I hit 600 calories and said oh no before you know it- I'll be ordering a pizza with chicken on top- yummy!  I won't I won't......just trying to hold it together.

Thanks for sharing!!

I'm heading down the isle, so to speak on the 27th. Reading your thoughts Bandita, problems and solutions will help me on my way.
Hope to talk again. Katie Keane.

Came across your discussion, surgery on the 27th. Your info is so helpful. Any hints you found out after the surgery, that you "COULDA", SHOULDA, DONE, please pass on.  One gal said bring chapstick. Things like that. Katie Keane