Calories/protein intake at Maintenance

Just wanted to get an idea of how many calories everyone is eating at maintenance.  I ask this because I am working with a trainer and she says I Should be eating anywhere from 1300 to 1500 calories a day.  My surgeon says no, I only need 900 to 1000 calories a day.  Even talked to dietician in surgeons office and she agreed with my trainer, so as you can see I am quite confused.

Btw I am 47, female and had the VSG in November 2012 and strength train 3 times a week and cardio 3 times a week.  Thanks in advance.

I think the answer will be different for everyone.....we all have different metabolisms. The right calorie level for you is the one that keeps you are your goal weight. I average about 750-850 calories a day right now but an within 10 lbs. of my goal weight. Once I hit goal, I plan to add 100 calories per day each wee****il I stop losing weight - that will be my calorie level. I made the mistake last time I lost 100 lbs. (on Medifast). I ate back my calories that I burned through exercise (as my fitness pal said I could) and I went by a caloric intake that someone with a normal metabolism should be able to eat. I should have been able to maintain at 1600-1800 calories a day based on my age, gender and level of exercise but I gained at 1500-1600 calories per day. I know I will probably be around 900 - 1200 calories for maintenance.

What Paula said. It's easiest if you track your food, and weigh yourself every day. If your weight goes up, you need to eat less, and vice versa. And, what might work for maintenance at 47 will almost certainly change at 57, and 67.

it's very very variable depending on amount and type of activity, muscle mass, types of food you eat.  the way to approach maintenanceis to SLOWLY increase your calories until you find a level that is good for you.  like add 200 calories a day, try that for 2-4 weeks and see how the scale reacts.  jsut remember that adding a bit of carbs might make it go up, but that will level off.  but it it keeps going up week after week with the same macros, THEN perhaps your calories are a bit high.

start by adding a fruit and a serving of nuts to your pre-mainteneace plan.  easy enough!

The more you exercise the more you need to eat.    Monitor your activity and food for a few weeks until you find what is best for you

How much do you weigh now?  How tall are you?  Do you want to lose more weight, gain weight or stay the same?

Our metabolism seems to slow down when our bodies recover from weight loss surgery.  The body has gone through a period of starvation and sees to learn how to hold onto weight much more efficiently than before.

At almost three years out, you are definitely in the place for maintenance, provided you do not want to lose any more weight.  Go to the calculators on the site If It Fits Your Macros

When you plug in your numbers and goals you will get the number of calories, carbs, protein and fat per day to meet your needs.  My goal is 136 and I maintain at 1400 calories per day. 

You've gotten great advice already. 

I think it's worth remembering that nutrition advice is definitely outside the scope of personal training. There is no nutrition education or testing provided in the ACE personal training certification process. (ACE is considered one of the leading accredited personal training certification methods.) So what expertise does your trainer have to be giving nutrition advice in the first place?  Probably not much beyond the knowledge we ourselves have. 

Your surgeon or dietician is a much more credible source for nutrition guidance. (And, in some states, it would be illegal for a personal trainer to give caloric advice in the first place!)

According to all the scientific calculations - what I was supposed to be able to eat and maintain was way too high - I started out at about 1200 calories a day.  Now more than 6 months out of hitting my goal, I can certainly eat more than that and maintain, probably more in the neighborhood of 1500-1800 a day.  My therapist says to weight yourself weekly during weight loss and daily during maintenance.  I think that's the best advice - it's a matter of trial and error until you find the right balance for you - and your activity level at the time.  Good luck!