Calories - how many do you eat?

 I know that only 9 days post op I am already up to 800 calories per day no problem.  I get a little bit concerned by all the people I read at only 500 calories per day.... but here is what I tell myself.  I am tall for a woman 5'10.  I am athletic and recently completed a 600 mile backpacking trip.  I have been walking a couple of miles per day and I haven't had a nap since day 3.  I have a little bit less weight to lose than some so I am comfortable that I can reach my goal weight in the honey moon first six months if I average 10 lbs/month.  I also have lost 11 lbs in 9 days.

I think that when I get to the regular stage I will easily be able to have 1200 calories and still lose at a moderate pace.  I have read about other people that will GAIN weight at that calorie intake. 

So in summary:  age, race, lbs to lose, activity level, sex, height, starting metabolism all will factor in.  If I my weight loss stalls, I will consume fewer calories.  If I am losing weight at more than 2 lbs a week, I am fine with my slightly higher calorie intake.

These are the rules I followed/follow: 

*3-6 Months After Surgery: I ate 600-700 calories a day

 

*6-9 Months After Surgery: I ate 800-900 calories a day

 

*9-12 Months After Surgery: I ate 1000 calories a day

*12-24 Months After Surgery: eat 1200 calories a day (I ate 1200 calories a day until 15 months when I reached my goal weight)

 

*24 Months after surgery (or when goal weight is reached before 24 months): Maintenance calories (BMR/RMR & Activity Level) (Malabsorption of calories lasts approximately 18-24 months) (I eat 1800-2000 calories a day to maintain my weight loss of 200 pounds at a weight of 131 pounds. My height is 5'4")

* I do not participate in a formal exercise program due to Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. I do move around a lot more and do a lot more walking.

Thanks all for your feedback, I"m right inline with the 800-1000 calories a day at 4 weeks out... my protein drinks is a few hundred of those.

 I'm 7 weeks out (almost 8 now).  I'm at about 800-1000 average a day.  Protein drinks of one kind or another are about 200-300 of those calories.