Question for you Old Heads

I am 2 1/2 years out and ohh the weight gain is happening. I guess my honeymoon is over for sure and it seems to have sped up since my plastic surgery.
So my question is this. I know what the basics are etc. Protein first etc.

What I am wondering is how many calories have you 0ld timers been told to eat? 
I am trying to stay within 1400 and it is darn hard. I know part of it is the fact that I am usually up at least 16 hrs out of the day so I tend to eat more because I am awake

But as I am trying to stay in this realm I find it hard. I wonder how people without a pouch do it? 
Any feedback?

It sux, it sux, it sux, it sux, it sux.    when I can be more "together" about it, we'll chat in detail.   I'm in day 11 of my 15dpt and determined to kick this fat, jiggly ass of mine back into shape.   I really think the stress and long hours have something to do with it too.   And, where do you put the exercise in with long hours.   What I do in my normal day now would have been training for a marathon in the old days, so why doesn't it count now????    I'm a 5:30 to 11 person myself and it is so flipping difficult to grab anything but 10 minutes here and there.  I would think 1400 w/exercise would maintain; 1000 w/exercise would lose.   And, yes I agree, you eat more when you are awake that much so it has to be non-caloric jellos and pops, teas and waters or it will pack on.   Somewhere we need to find more time for this...   

Kristin (dr. B's Kristin) told me that post ops typically stay between 1000 and 1500 per day with the average being 1200...all depends on height, activity level, etc. 

Yes she told me this as well and I conveniently forgot it. 1200 calories is so minimal even to us  i think. But if I Have to do it I will. I have a hard time picturing what a 1200 calorie day looks like.
I guess I will just have to pay much closer attention and get my butt in the gym. I am really considering a personal trainer just for a bit to get me motivated and to have some accountability. I wont work myself out as hard. I am also looking at classes again. It is hard with 3 jobs but the class will end soon.

I actually saved her email with the information in it because I knew I would forget...and I often do so I go back and look at it. 

you probably have sent it to me already but if not could you email it to me?

I will send it now.

Just over 3 years out here and find it hard to avoid carbs, but they are definately the culprit in the scale moving the wrong direction.  Keep em low, and then the cravings won't be as bad, and of course slider foods don't help with appetite increase.

Obviously no advice here...but wanted to say I know you can do whatever you want and need to do.  Your determination is obvious!

Pam

Couple of things off the top of my head:

1. If you're hitting protein goals, you might want to consider one of your "meals" as a pure veggie or salad meal, filling, and zippo calories

2. How many times a day do you eat?

3. When do you take your first meal of the day?

4. Do you supplement your protein at all? What kind of supplement?

5. How often are you getting to the gym? I was watching the fitness threads a few months back, and you were in there every day. I know you're recovering from your PS, but are you getting back to the gym? How often and what are you doing when you go?

I can burn 900 calories in 45 minutes on the treadmill. That's a pretty intense workout in not a huge amount of time. I can tell you how if you're interested. Mike Materacky gave me the workout, then I tweaked it and made it my own. It's challenging!

7. I probably eat anywhere from 1600-2500 calories a day, those 2000+ days are days that I weight train, and it mostly from extra protein.  I  realize that this makes me the exception among you guys, but you asked, and I'm sharing. My waist line has stayed the same for quite some time now. I can't say that I haven't gained weight, because I've added probably 10 lbs since last fall of muscle weight.