Calories - 2.5 months out, 5'10, very active

Hi everyone!

I am wondering what my calories should be at.  I am 2.5 months out, 5'10, and very active.  I have been spinning about 2X / week, running & lifting 2X / week, doing yoga 1-2X / week and playing hockey 1-2X/ week.  

Lately I have been eating ~750 calories / day and have been feeling ok.  Just the last couple of days my energy has really dropped.  (maybe I am getting sick).

I asked my nutritionist how many calories I should have and she wont give me a number.  She just wants me to eat to satisfaction.  I do get hungry between meals and am ready for my next scheduled snack / meal, but want to avoid grazing.  

 

Does anyone have any input / advice?

 

Thanks!

I don't know that I necessarily have enough experience to give you advice; however, I will say that I ate between 650-700 for the first six months. Hunger came back and I started working out more, so I upped my calories. Now, I'm trying to "tighten up" a bit so that I can finally get into onderland and cutting back is incredibly difficult. So, keep that in mind. It's must easier to keep your calories lower for as long as possible and increase them when you're done losing than to cut back when you get to the last 25 lbs.... which is where I am at now! Ugh!

Also, you might want to consider switching up what you're eating so that you can incorporate snacks but keep the calories the same. Look at your tracking and see if you can be leaner, perhaps?

Good luck!

I think the amount of protein vs carbs your eating may be as important as the calories.  Do you keep a log?

I do keep a log - I'm on myfitnesspal as Stacy_WLS.  I ussually get 70-90g of protein a day and keep net carbs about 30 or less.  I am really focusing on protein.

I ate 750 calories at that point and was handling 30-60 minutes of strenuous elliptical training daily without issues.  Personally, I'd stick to the 750 until the weight is gone.

In the end it's just a balancing act.  You can cut inches through exercise while eating more, but the muscle gains will make it appear like you're loosing weight slower.  In actuality it's the better route, with longer term benefits, but at times it makes it look slower on the scale.  So it's really about how you want train to move and deciding which is more important to you "overall fitness" or "today's weight".  IMHO, you can make both work in the end and it's just a matter of choosing the route you'll take.

To avoid hunger, hit the water big time, doublely important because of your exercise schedule.  You should be in the 100-150 ounce range and at the top end of that on any particularly active days.

I think the water could be part of the problem.  I have been easily getting in 64oz, but I think I might need to push this up.  I have been drinking a bunch of water this morning and it is making me feel a bit better.

I am 6'2'' and exercised 6 days a week during my weight loss phase, either 1 hour on the elliptical or a 4-5 mile walk... both on the weekends.  I was about where you are calorie wise at that time frame.  By the third month a little closer to 900, 4th month closer to 1000, and 5th month leveled out at 1100-1200.  No problem getting to goal.  I ate an average of 110-120 grams of protein daily, 35 grams or so of fiber, carbs around 100 (net).  Carbs were not processed, white, etc.  but fruit and veggies predominantly with a low carb tortilla wrap every so often. 

At your stage, I was getting under 500 calories. I only started getting 750 calories around 8 months post-op.(I 'm kind of short 5'4)

Enjoy the weight loss

I'm about the same height and activity and couldn't do the 800 recommended so upped mine to about 1000.