Help Please - Why limit intake and colories if losing with more food?

I am 1 1/2 weeks after post op from a lapband. I weight 450 to start...goal weight ripped is prob 190. I'm 6' 0" with a large frame. I prob. have normal caloric needs at my ideal weight of 3000 calories, at least! I could lose weight like crazy @ around 2000 calories easy. I can prob eat up to 8 oz right now.

So here's my question......why starve my body with 1000 calories or less, 4 oz portions 3 times a day when I would still be losing weight like crazy with double the amount of food??? I see several issues with this low cal logic: 1) it will lower your metabolism as your body compensates and gets used to 1000 calories. 2) when I plateau with my weight loss there is no way to step down my calories because I'm already at a bare minimum. 3) it seems to me illogical to squeeze down your food hole to the point of pain and vometing in the name of rapid weight loss when I believe the true genious of the lap band is that the backpressure from the main part of the stomach is what makes you feel satisfied. Cranking down on the band further seems nothing more than a health hazzard!

When I have asked these questions I seem to get run around aswers and references to "well studies show if you starve yourself you lose more weight." Well no ****but that doesn't make it healthy or neccesary.

I believe there's logic here that I'm missing with the low cal, low intake mentality.....please, someone, take the time to explain to me why we should starve ourselves after the surgery when it seems unnecesary...and frankly unhealthy.

Thanks in advance

Abe

Ok so you are only 1 1/2 weeks post-op.  When I was 1 1/2 weeks post-op I was still on my post-op diet in the liquids phase.  I honestly didn't feel "hungery" during that phase as I was still swollen from surgery. 

The caloric intake is something that varies from clinic to clinic.  I have some band friends whose surgeons told them 800 calories a day max, while my surgeon suggests 1200-1500 calories per day.  (But then goes on to state we don't need to count calories--wtf??)

I agree that tightening the band too tight is a health hazard as this increases the risk for erosion and slippage.  If you are losing weight there is no need to have a fill to increase restriction. 

Remeber not to overdo it thought...you are steal healing and don't want to put too much strain on your healing stomach. 

I think its just a case of starting as you mean to go on....I have 1400 as I think 1000 is too low....the body goes into starvation mode & hangs on to every lb.  For me slow & steady has been the key, as I think your skin is more likely to remould itself to your new frame.(Thats what the surgeon says) I didn't want lots of excess skin. I've lost 40lb in just over 6 months & I think thats pretty good, but its only 1 or 2lbs a week.

Jill

I think too many people play around or adjust their calories when they plateau.  Lowering your calories or restricting more and more to me isn't the answer.  Like you said there becomes a time when you can't lower anymore.  I mean if you are at a plateau it's a good idea to review what you are eating and if you are eating things you shouldn't then make sure you change your diet.  But to restrict yourself to a point that you know you won't be able to sustain...we all know is a recipe to regain the minute we eat normal again.  I say eat as normal as possible (normal meaning adequate calories but quality foods).  In order to make this a life long change you need to be able to sustain it forever.  

When I plateau I have just adjusted my exercise and my plateaus have been brief....lasting two weeks.  I am in the process of training for my first 5K so I am doing intervals and building up to running a mile.....if I plateau I just add a minute or two to my run time.  It works for me.  The bonus is I am losing weight at about 2bls a week since I started this and I have actually had to increased my calories...and I'm still losing!!!  So I get to eat more because of my running.  I have lost 150lbs so far!!! 

I agree with you.  The answer isn't reducing calories it's increasing activity.     

Abe,

I do agree with you on several points.  I think its unhealthy to be eating anything less then 1000 calories per day I dont think your body functions properly but that is just my opinion  and my doctor wont allow it.  If you cant eat a certain amount of food he will took fluid out of you just for health reasons.  We are here to get healthy not to make it worse by not giving our body the nutrients we need. My gf found that out the hard way .

I dont eat anything less 1200-1500 per day and if that is eating every 3 hrs so be it.  I do advanced Zumba four times a week and I need the calories and I need the carbs to work along with my exercise .

Eating less calories dont make you lose weight of course you will at first but just like you said you will stall and you cant lower your calories any lower .  Been there done that this past Feb and stalled on weight loss for 5-6 weeks .

And you  are right just to tighten the band up because you are not losing weight  or wanting to eat less and less I dont agree with that all and that is wrong IMO.   People need to be looking at other factors why they are not losing weight and not getting their calories so dang low.

Maybe there calories are to low , maybe they are to high, maybe they are eating the wrong foods, maybe they are not getting up and exercising, not drinking their water .  There could be a million reasons why you are not losing weight and before you get a fill you should check all them factors first .

this my personal expedience and my story .  I do not have a fill in my band whatsoever.  I eat anything I want,   I dont have stuck problems,  I dont slime,  I can eat breakfast,.

When I got this band I was at the point in my life that I was so damn tired of being overweight , I was tired of having major panic attacks that I was going to have a  heart attack and die and I was tired of not being able to breathe when I walked out the back door .

The band around my stomach is enough for me to remind me that I do need to slow down to eat, that I do need to eat smaller portions .   When I went and talked to my doc I told him straight out I will not be to the point with my band that I cant eat certain foods or I cant do this because I have to much restriction in me . I refused to live that way or be scared to go out and eat with family because you never know what you can eat that day .

He said I Will do fine on how  I want to do the band.  I'm not knocking anybody that does that with their bands that is their choice and that is how they want to do things but that just isn't me .  I watched for several yrs with my gf and her band and she kept her band like that and I refused to be that way .

Right now I am very strong minded and very very mentally strong and you need to have that also with the band.  The band  dont stop head hunger, the band dont stop you from eating even if you have the best restriction around, the band dont stop you from eating unhealthy foods , the band dont make you get up and exercise .  It still has to be you and you alone.

My doc and my shrink told me as I use my head games with my band  getting a fill is the same way if you think about it . It makes the brain and you think that you dont need to sit down and eat a large pizza , or you dont need to go back for seconds that is what the fills do .its a head game and it helps you believe that you dont need all that food.   And I truly believe that. We even talked about that in support group one month .

there might come a time I need a fill then maybe I dont . I know several people some on here and a few in my support group that has lost over 100 , 200 pounds without a single fill in there band they do it like I do , the band is enough of a reminder not to do them things.

And let me make myself clear  I am NOT knocking anybody that gets fills if they need them get them , but I always do ask people questions first because sometimes a fill isn't always the answer as a very good friend of mine found out on here from us talking back and forth :o)

I just work my band in a very different way then alot of people do on here . I do not starve, I can go a good 3 hrs at a time sometimes as long as six on the meals I eat and I'm happy with that . And you know a little hunger pains from time to time dont kill nobody we are not going to die if we get hungry.

I have lost 50 pounds and 30 inches doing it this way so going to keep doing it till it comes to a time I might get a fill and when I do it will be a very very small fill .

Good luck Abe on your journey you will be just fine :o)

But right now Abe you are healing follow the insructions and then after your post op stage then start playing around with your food, your calories and your fills.  Dont worry about it right now your stomach is healing . After six weeks you can start doing all these things :o)

Is it your surgeon or nutritionist suggesting 1000 calorie diet?  Just curious, because usually it's a bit higher for men especially at your starting weight. 

Here's my feeling...for what it's worth.  Just because you can eat 8 oz doesn't mean you should.  Remember, your pouch is small, usually holds about 4 oz according to my Dr.  Eating 8 oz of solid food, (depending on the density once it's chewed), can put stress on the pouch.  You don't want to over-fill the pouch, which can cause pressure on the band and possibly stretch the pouch and/or esophagus. 

I would say that adding 1-2 small meals or snacks to get to your calorie goal would be more important than increasing your individual portion size just because you can.  Especially early on, when you don't have much restriction, you may need more frequent meals.

I lost my weight eating 3 meals a day with one planned snack on 800 calories a day.  It was fine for me, I didn't feel hungry, ever!  My band works great for me and I was very dedicated to following the post op diet to the T.  But many others lose weight on 1200-1500 calories. 

It also depends a lot on WHAT you are eating vs. HOW MUCH.  Eliminating simple carbs, (all the white stuff), will help acheive your WL goals. 

I guess you've already asked your surgeon these questions and aren't getting very satisfying answers.  And here you are going to get a ton of varying advice.  Bottom line, do what you feel works for you calorie wise, but make sure you are getting 60-100 g of protein, lots of zero calorie fluids, walk everyday to start even if its just for 15 minutes and CONTROL YOUR PORTIONS, (the band won't help you much until you get a few fills, so it's up to you).

Keep asking great questions!  We're here to help!

Best~
Lisa O.

I am probably going to get banned for saying this. I have never ever once since I got my band counted calories. I have focused on the nutrients I need to have and maintain a healthy lifestyle. I focus HIGHLY on protein because banded you can and will feel a significant difference between eating lets say oatmeal for breakfast opposed to eggs. Eggs which have a much higher protein content will fill you faster and keep you "full" longer. Where oatmeal will make your stomach feel heavy for about an hour and you simply won't have the protein you need.

Protein is also important for when you workout and allows your body to break down lipids and fats much quicker while also promoting aerobic respiration in your joints and muscles. Which basically means its helps prevent that pulled muscle painful feeling that results in many new exercisors (spelling?) in becoming unmotivated to start a workout plan.

For me, sitting here and counting every single calorie that goes in my body panics me. I want to feel good after a meal and throughout my life not "OMG I cant believe I ate 1202 calories I am 2 calories over my whole diet is ruined" which is how I think. It takes a different type of discipline that I do not have. For me I am disciplined in portion control, avoiding junk food, and making the most of what little I can eat. I don't believe in punishing or priding myself over food its a requirement to eat for our survival.  

My nutritionist told me "The hardest part of lapband is knowing your body well enough to find a balance". I thoroughly believe this. 

Depends on the oatmeal actually.   I have bob's red mill steelcut oats and it has 7grams of protein in a 1/4 cup (dry).  If I eat a serving of steelcut oatmeal, it will keep me full for at least 4 hours.    Regular ole instant oatmeal doesn't last.

No one is going to ban you for working your band in YOUR way.  I don't think Kate (where is Kate anyhow?) counts calories either and has been quite successful.  :)

Where do you get that oatmeal? I have never seen it....and does it come only in plain because I am not a fan of plan oatmeal. I miss grits with butter and maple syrup...sorry lol just sayin.

I buy it at either my grocery store (in the teeny-tiny health food section) or order from Bob's Red Mill online.   www.bobsredmill.com

Yes, it's plain.. but so easy to fix that.   I make mine with 1/2 of an organic apple, cinnamon, 1 Tbspn of half/half and sometimes I add a T of chopped Walnuts.

And for the maple syrup.. DaVinci makes a s/f Pancake syrup that's pretty good.  Walden Farms also makes a s/f Maple syrup that's acceptable.  Try Netrition.com for those if you can't find them locally.

Yes, I miss grits too.  :(   I really miss cheese grits with fried catfish.    People don't know about cheese grits & catfish in Texas.. it's so weird to get pinto beans with catfish...