Calorie Intake 6 weeks post-op

Just wondering where I should be for a daily calorie intake at about 6 weeks out?  What percent should be protein?  fats?  carbs?   I seem to be a little stalled in weight loss, but my clothes feel more loose.   thanks!

Brad,

The quickie, knee jerk answer is- “Keep Calories above 1000 and below 1500 and you should do great.” The rule of thumb is- “Protein First.” Men have higher Protein need that the Gals, And most are directed to get in around or over 100 gms of protein a day. For more actual info? Don't have enough info to make a call. What "stage" are you in advancing your diet? Solids?  Crisp Veggies? etc..... All of the nutrition requirements would be based on your own Basal Metabolic Rate Which you can get a rough approximation of with an online calculator. Like- http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/ Percentage diet intake? The Overall amounts will depend on your Daily Calorie intake. To get a quick, rough Calorie versus Exercise number For someone your size? Check out- http://www.caloriecontrol.org/calcalsm.html It is a blunt tool, but does give you Some guidelines to check how you’re doing. It’s not as involved as Fitday, But it is a quick guide that’s fairly accurate. Once you’ve got what your calorie intake “should be,” Then it is more of a matter of percentages of those calories Rather than a simple “How much/many?” Yes? The American Heart Association’s recommendation (from ’96) - "Dietary Guidelines for the Healthy Adult" Says your diet should be 30% fats (with no more than 10% being saturated fat) Then, depending on which nutritionist And what particular plan they have for the individual patient, The remaining 70% of the diet is divided into 30 to 40% Carbs And (depending on the former number) 30 to 40% Proteins. * For those RNY Post-ops, Protein over Carbs is recommended Due to mal-absorption of Protein. The focus should be on “Quality” nutrition.

 

Quality Protein – should include The 8 essential amino acids and 14 non-essential.

 

Quality Carbohydrates – would refer to Low Glycemic Carbs, such as found in Vegetables with lower concentrations of Carbs and higher Fiber content. My Nutritionist recommends (for me) 80% of my carbs be Low Glycemic Foods And 20% of them Higher. (but still avoiding sugar and "White Carbs- Flour, rice, etc) LowGF discourages the storage of fat. Quality Fats – Act much the same as Low Glycemic/Higher Fiber foods In that they slow sugars from moving quickly into your blood stream. The “good” fats are omega 3, omega 6, and medium chain fatty acids, MCFA. Here is the breakdown on the quantity of each type of fat That My Nutritionist recommends for me. These percentages could be different for others and probably are- Saturated fats 10% of overall fat intake. Polyunsaturated fats 20% of overall fat intake. Monounsaturated fats 70% of overall fat intake. But, like all info you run across out here- Check out what YOUR Doc and Nutritionist Recommend for YOU! Hope this helps! Best Wishes- Dx

 

Wow, thanks.  I had RNY on August 6th. I am on solid foods now.  My Doc says between 3tbs and 1/4 cup per meal is my amount to eat.  I thought that I would end at the first year with 1000 calories at the most!  I would have thought I should be around 600-700 calories at this stage.  1000 to 1500 seems a bit high.   But maybe I could boost some of my calories with more protein drinks?  They have low glycemic index and 36 grams of protein when I add it with milk.  It would add about 200 calories though.   I read your post about the process your body goes through and that boosting your calories actually might help you lose faster!  Do you think I should do that?  Maybe I am not losing as fast because my body is slowing down?   I will look at some of the tools you sent in your links.  Appreciate your input.

Brad, “Starvation Mode” or “Hibernation Mode” is the slang For depressed metabolism caused by dropping Calories too low. Talk with your doc and nutritionist about your ideal target For caloric intake.  It’s different for everyone. Some people out on the Boards “ Over-State ” the whole “Starvation Mode” Idea, and claim that if you keep your calories down around 500 You won’t lose. Not the case, as many people who “actually starve” could attest to. Yes, too low on the calories will cause the metabolism to drop So that the ‘resting metabolism’ burns fewer calories, But eventually it does come down to “Calories in VS Calories Out.” If your Protein levels drop too low, your body will take want it needs From your body.  Muscles, internal organs, etc… If protein levels are sufficient, Then the body uses Fat for it’s extra energy needs. But with Protein, after a point, “More, no longer equals Better.” Studies have shown that intakes above 2.62 grams per kg of bodyweight example-(214 grams for a 180lb male) provided no additional benefit in terms of nitrogen balance And increased the risk of renal overload and dehydration. That would be A LOT of Protein! In fact, Too Much. Since there are 3500 calories in 1 lb. of body fat, you can get a fairly good approximation of how fast you can lose. for example- My resting metabolic consumption is- 1800 Calories. That’s what it takes just keeping me alive. for exercise- an approx. number can be figured. a site like- http://www.nutristrategy.com/activitylist4.htm If I do an hour of walking a day, that burns an additional 300. Spread over the rest of the day, I get in an additional “ambling sort of walking” for about 3 hours.  That’s an additional 600 calories burned. 1805+300+600= 2700 Calories burned that day. If I eat 1700 calories, that leaves me at a caloric deficit Of 1000 Calories each day. 3500 calories in 1 lb. of body fat, Would take 3.5 days to lose at that rate. Yes? There are of course all sorts of variables in the mix too. Insulin resistance slows the burning of calories. Temperature variations cause variations in calories burned. etc, etc, etc… Tailoring a program specific for your metabolism, Size, muscle to fat ratios, and activity levels Is the only way to get a clear idea of how few calories consumed Will translate to pounds lost. A little over a month out? I have no real suggestion as to how to adjust your diet. But staying with protein first, then low-glycemic Carbs With plenty of fiber, is always a good idea. Best Wishes- Dx

I know it's hard to imagine now, but your ability to eat is going to steadily increase for the next 5-10 months.  If you didn't eat over 1000 calories for the next year, you'd probably be emaciated and hospitalized before this time next year.  At six months out, until last week I averaged <1500, but this last week I averaged 1800 (an anomaly, ate 1200 yesterday and will probably return to <1500 for this week).  So some days I reach just over 2000, and 3000 is probably possible if I was affirmatively trying to eat a lot (and constantly).  But at 6 weeks, I was still only getting to 600 by late evening, at which point I'd force myself to take a protein shake, etc. to round out the day. 1000+ helps prevent your metabolism from crashing.  It probably won't affect your short-term weight loss much one way or another, but it will affect your long-term weight and your energy levels.  1000+(along with sufficient protein) also helps prevent muscle loss, which has long-term implications for weight, not to mention how your body looks and functions at a given weight.  I wouldn't expect weight loss to speed up no matter what you do.  You weigh, I'm guessing, about 210 right now?  You can't compare your loss rate to a guy that weighs 450 or even 300.  Your loss rate is quite good for where you started.  You will very likely reach goal inside of six months, which ain't bad.