Not getting in enough calories.

 I have maybe 300 calories a day if I am lucky. Can I live on that until I build up to more? How can my body tolerate this?!? I'm trying so hard to get in more but with my complications it is dificult. What do you all think?

Hey Katie (Hope I got your name right),

While you should work toward eating more, your body has an effective mechanism for these situations. It's called fat. Your body will burn fat when it doesn't have sufficient calories from food.

But eventually your body will start to burn more slowly to preserve itself so you really should try to up your calories (incrementally...don't try to do it all at once). That way you'll keep losing steadily. If your body continues to starve your weight loss can come to a screeching halt. I should also point out a starved body, when given sufficient food, has been known to add back on EXTRA fat to protect itself from future starvation.

But thankfully this is something we all go through (or at least many of us). In time you'll be able to eat more and your body will adjust itself.

My suggestion would be to drink your calories. Protein shakes. With milk. 2% milk. If I were you, I'd even throw some actual peanut butter in my chocolate protein shake (I tell most folks never to do this).

" If your body continues to starve your weight loss can come to a screeching halt. I should also point out a starved body, when given sufficient food, has been known to add back on EXTRA fat to protect itself from future starvation."

Ain't THAT the truth! I had a stricture that they couldn't fix for almost two weeks. Went into true starvation mode and have gained about 8 lbs back and am struggling to lose it again!

Just remember that you WILL lose the weight. Just follow your dr's instructions. If you are worried that you can't get enough in...call your surgeon or nutritionist. They will probably have some suggestions on how to get more.

Good luck!!!

I don't know what kind of complications you've had (and I'm SO SORRY to hear that!)
But Nik is absolutely right, your body needs more than 300 calories a day, definitely. If you can, drink as many protein shakes as you can tolerate!
What foods can you eat? Nuts, like Almonds and Peanuts are a great source of calories and protein. Peanut butter is high in calories and has protein as well.
But you're about what 2.5-3 months out now, right? You should definitely be having more cals.
Also, eggs are a little on the high calorie side with protein. See if you can tolerate a hard boiled egg, Yolk and all.

Good luck hun. And again, I'm so very sorry to hear you've had a tough time with your WLS.
This too shall pass.

-Karly

My nurse had me eat regular PB (I like it enought to just lick it off a spoon). That helped get the cals up until I could fit in other good stuff. Jenny T