I can't get in my calories!!!

Hello all! This is my first time posting on OH, but I have a question for all of you post-opers! I am 5 weeks post-op and I am having a hard time getting in all of my calories. I have lost 37.6 pounds so far, which is great, but I am sort of at a stand still and I think it's because I am not eating enough! I don't feel like I am starving, in fact I feel like I am eating enough, but I don't know how to get my calories in. I just don't want my body to go into "starvation mode". Any advice out there for this? Psssssh I would have never thought this would be such an issue! HAHA

Hello,
You do not really have to worry too much about calories at this stage. Your body has plenty of supplied energy to keep going.

What you should be concentrating on is getting your  protein in.  I was told 90grms a day.  Other people have been told 70 grams.  Get what every your doctor instructed you to do.  Also make sure you are taking a multi-vitamin every day.  If you cannot get 70 - 90 grms of dense protein in at this stage you can always supplement with a protein shake or 2 .

It is also critical that you get at least 64oz of water in every day.


How many calories are you aiming at getting in a day?.  At week 5 I was still on soft food and was probable only getting in around 700 - 800 a day.

Welcome to OH. I agree with Bubble, don't worry about getting calories in, worry about getting your protein and fluids. As you progress you will find it easier to get the calories. In fact at some point you will try to get your calories down!

If you have lost nearly38 pounds so far rejoice! Just know that your body may want to take a break from losing and you may have a stall. When that happens you may lose inches instead.

You are in this thing for the long haul so don't sweat the small stuff. I know, right now everything is big. Ask around here and we will be able to help you out. You are doing fine. This thing is a journey and you won't get there for a long, long while but that is a good thing. You are learning new skills and patterns.
 
Keep up the good work.

Sue

I am on week 7. At my visit last week I had my first fill and was also told don't worry about how much you eat. And, only eat when you are hungry. My dr said 60 g protein and 64 oz of water. I find I am spending more time on the water!

I am getting in around 550 - 700 calories a day and continue to lose. I am down 48' including the 10 I lost prior to surgery.

Keep up the good work. I have gone3-4 days at a time with no loss and then dump a couple pounds the next day. Don't worry, it is working!

Thank you all SO much for the feedback! I had my first post-op appt yesterday and my surgeon basically told me the same thing about getting in my calories. She said that it's all a learning process and that I would eventually figure out exactly what my body needs and how to get my calories in! So.... you are all right!! I am going to try and get in 1,000 - 1,200 calories this week and see if that makes a difference for me?! If I don't or can't get in that much, then I won't beat myself up over it... I'll just keep working hard at it! I had my first fill yesterday, so we shall see how that affects this whole thing! ;)

Also, I ALWAYS get  in my 64oz of water and I am aiming for 60g of protein currently. I am definitely in this for the long haul and am willing to work my butt off to get the results I am wanting!!

Thank you all again for the support and nice comments! 

Great attitude! You and your body will figure it out. I am still only getting in 700 calories and feel that as I exercise more, I will be able to eat more. As long as the pounds keep coming off and I feel good, I am happy.

Keep up the good work!

Jenna, friend me and we can chat. We started out at the same weight. Maybe we can compare notes!

Sue - I will do that! :) And.... I have been excersizing like a mad woman (5 days a week 2 1/2 miles each time), which is why I am really concerned about my caloric intake! But, ya I am definitely going to focus on that this week! Well... after today, since I am on liquids after my fill yesterday! BOO!!! LOL 

Hey Jenna-  I am only three weeks post op, however, this is my second rodeo.  I had gastric bypass in 2003 and have gained and lost weight several times over the last 5 years.  Due to a mechanical breakdown of my bypass I had to have a band over bypass done and now am exactly three weeks out.  I am finding the band to be very different from the bypass, however, the concept is the same.  I am only getting about 400 calories in a day right now as I am still drinking Isopure for protein and have not moved on to solids.  I wanted to take advantage of the post op time to lose as much as I could. I went in to surgery as a regular exerciser so I have toned it down a bit post op but am still out there.  One thing I can say from experience the first time around and every time I've lost weight.  It is all input vs. output.  How many calories you consume vs. expend in daily living and exercise.  At times it is almost like a bank, it will store up all those calories that you have expended then all at once it will pay out......and you will lose several pounds at a time.  I never worry about scale, I only focus on the input vs. output.  I wear a bodybugg and swear by it.  If it tells me I have a caloric deficit of 1,750 calories per day I know I will lose a pound every two days.....that pound may not come up for a few days but it will pop up and in the end it is all mathematical.   The only important thing to me right now is 64 oz. of water and 70 to 80 grams of protein per day, I have faith in the process.  Cherish the time that you worry about not having enough calories!  I am!