Am I getting balanced? Help???

I am pre-op and weigh 348 pounds. For the past couple months, I have been gradually decreasing my caloric intake. I am now very comfortable consuming less than 1500 calories a day. I am including 30 minutes of movement a day in my plan as well, and am trying to keep the carbs under 50%, protein around 30% and fats near 20%. Is this even close to what i should be doing to maintain a moderate and slow loss? Is this balanced, or even close? -S.

Hiya Shari,

     Which procedure are you pre-op for...RNY, band, DS?  I would slowly switch your percentages towards what you'll be eating after surgery if you're planning RNY.  Every week drop your carbs by a few % and replace them with lean protein.  I wouldn't drop your calories much below 1,500 pre-operatively.

     Also, start eating 5-6 tiny meals each day rather than anything large at one time and trying to get in 80-100 oz of water.  (It wouldn't hurt to find vitamin/mineral supplements that you like ahead of time either.)  And the main pre-op change which will make the most difference to you operatively and post-operatively health-wise is cardio exercise.  Find something you can do which will get your heart rate into the cardio range and start trying to do it every day.  Back when I first started the elliptical, I thought 5 minutes was going to kill me.  Now I can stay on for 40 minutes easily.  Just take it easy at first and build very gradually.  You'll be surprised what you can get up to before your surgery, and it can make a world of difference in the sort of complications you can avoid.

Thanks, Julie. Your response is right on target with what I have been doing. I've been slowly increasing the protein (I'll be an RNYer) and the 1500 calories I do eat are spaced throughout the day, almost more like snacks than meals. Last night I walked a half mile for the first time since 2003-- and I didn't die! I'm slowly fighting my way back. Thanks for the support! -S.

Girl, you're balanced when what you do works for you.  Everyone's different.  As long as what you're doing is peeling off the pounds; you're doing it right.