How low cals.....

Since I am pre-op and maybe not-op at all or someday-op, and am doing this psuedo-liquid diet with rabbit food, how low should I have my daily cals? I'm trying to stay under 1500 cals a day with most of my input coming from the protein shakes. On some days I go as low as 1200. Is this good or bad?

I don't think it's good or bad - that would depend on what your goals are for the diet. 1200 - 1500 calories per day ought to be fine as long as you're also getting your  basic nutritional needs met  - vitamins and minerals, etc... and are not getting all 1200 to 1500 cals from protein shakes.  It's more than you will take in daily after surgery (when and if you ultimately have it) for the first few weeks after surgery. I would think that if you're at least semi active,  it should also result in weight loss for you.

Yup taking my 1aday supplement, so thats fine, just trying to lose as much weight as possible. I also drink a ton of water each day and have been walking at least 3miles at night.

My three most successful diets, pre-op, were modeled on information I got from a paperback book entitled "The Hilton Head Metabolism Diet". I did it once during my mid twenties, once during my late twenties and once during my late thirties. On all three occasions I lost around 40 lbs. The first two times it took around 6 weeks to two months, but the third time it took about 3.5 months. That it took almost twice the time to lose the same amount of weight was a pretty good indication that I had fubared my metabolism from yo-yoing. At any rate, the diet calls for two weeks at 800 calories per day interupted by a week at 1100 calories per day in order to prevent your body from adjusting to the 800. Repeat the cycle as many times as desired. I took a multi-vitamin daily whenever I went down this low in my calories. I say all of that to say this: I felt good physically during these periods of low caloric intake and I don't think it hurt my body. It takes a lot of mental toughness to stay at these levels for very long. Or at least it did for me. And after I would finally go off of it, it would be impossible for me to mentally spool up for another diet until I had regained the 40 and more. So, long story short, my experience would lead me to advize that 1500 is not a problem healthwise as long as you're getting your protein and vitamins in.

You're so right to point out the importance of where the 1500 calories are coming from. 1500 calories a day of crap is obviously no good nor is 1500 calories of just protein. I've always tried to have a caloric goal of around 40% protein, 30% carbs (mostly good carbs, fruits/veggies) and 30% fat (mostly good fats). Your body needs all three components to be healthy (protein for muscle, carbs for energy and fat for the brain and other organs).    The number of calories I eat daily varies depending on how active I am. For instance, I'm less active during the winter so I TRY to keep my calories around 2000 to 2500. In the summer, I bike like crazy so I can easily eat 3000 to 3500 calories a day without gaining or losing weight.  That said, I started this journey at 500 pounds and the 2 months leading up to WLS, I averaged 1000 calories a day as I was put on a liquid diet. After WLS, I went from 300 calories per day for the first month up to 600 in months 2-3, to 1000, months 4-6, 1500, months 7-12. I kept track of all this stuff on fitday.com so I'm pretty sure of the data.    

Between 1200 and 1500 is a great range for most folks. As long as you are getting a full range of nutrition. 40%to 30% Protein, 30% to 40 % Lower-Glycemic Carbs, and 30% Fats (mostly mono and poly unsaturated fats.) Keep you fiber intake up as well as water intake. Sounds like you are doing fine. The trick is converting it all into habit and routine Rather than treating it like a "Diet." Keep focusing on "Long-Term" solutions that’ll last a lifetime. Best Wishes- Dx

I'm also adding some powder fiber to my water once a day. I think Im on the right path and we'll see how fat it goes for me. Trying to think long term cause if this works for me I'll just continue with it. Even the protein drinks for 2 meals and then eat a small portioned dinner. If I can make it work.

Thanks.

> Even the protein drinks for 2 meals > and then eat a small portioned dinner. That's essentially what the "Slim Fast" diet plan is (except that the protein shakes come from SlimFast), and is more or less identical to my surgeon's 2-week pre-op diet.  He allows 3 protein drinks (or 2 drinks and an equivalent snack), and a modest meal of real food. I started it six weeks before surgery and lost 25 pounds with no problem at all, enough that I remarked to the NUT that I might do just as well to imagine that I had the surgery and just proceed without all the cutting and stitching.  I guess a lot of people come to that conclusion, because she answered without missing a beat: "You might imagine it, but your body would know better." It works well as a pre-op regimen, because the time window before back-sliding starts in is small enough that most people are successful up to the day of their surgery. /Steve

You are essentially on the right track. As long as it is reasonable (no hokey 1-877 late night tv stuff), not horribly expensive and does not cause you harm, it is good for you. My only recommendation would be to switch from a One-a-day to a Centrum Silver chewable. Our USA diet/nutrition is not very good. Regardless of your calories intake, our american diet does not allow us to acquire the vitamins we need. The Centrum Adult Chewable provides excellent levels, easy absorption.  Not trying to hawk a product here. But if it is simple, and it works, run with it. Good luck to you Dr. Dirk Rodriguez Cincinnati