What is your long term eating plan?

Even after going through all of my classes for the surgery, I'm at a bit of a loss regarding what the long term eating plan looks like outside of the "rules" (no drinking within 30 minutes, lean proteins first, hit protein and liquid goals). I see people saying low carb and low sugar and that makes sense. I can't find any guidance regarding calories, though. When you are planning your meals, do you stay within a certain number of calories? If so, how many? Thank you!

At this point, the only thing I watch is calories. I get more than enough protein -- at least 150 grams per day -- so calories is all I watch. I weigh everything I eat, every day. Staying on target with calories is what keeps me on track.

How many calories? I guarantee your number will be different than mine, or others. When you reach your final weight, you'll need to figure out how many calories you need to stay there. The numbers I see most frequently are 1200-1600 calories, but there is a lot more variation.

^^^ What Grim said.

It's impossible to predict what your "magic number" will be when you go into maintenance. It's a trial and error thing. I tend to gain/not lose weight if my calories are over 1200 per day. I'm one of the unlucky ones.

During the first year, I tried to keep my calories around 800. Even now when I do, I can lose weight easily. The problem is sticking to that number daily. Oy.

Calories really are the key. Eating a lot of carbs will make you crave more carbs. Eating protein will make you feel satiated.

The old Weigh****cher rule was 10 calories per pound per day. So to maintain 140 pounds, eat 1400 calories a day.

To lose a pound a week at 140 pounds, eat 500 calories less or 900 per day. Has been working for me for years.

Hi, sushiflower. If you like sushi, you're already on the right track.

There's a thread that appears here almost everyday -- "Whatcha eating today, sleevers?" Check past posts out and you'll find out exactly what successful sleevers eat.

Good luck!

psychoticparrot

Thank you all for the help!

During my weight loss phase it went roughly like this... I am starting to get a little fuzzy on at which points I upped the calories, so know there is a little wiggle room on the dates.

Month 1- calories ranged from 300 early out up to 700-800 by the end of the month. I tried the low carb thing, and it was disastrous for me due to low blood sugar issues.

Month 2- stayed right around 800 calories and exercising 6 days a week at this point.

Month 3- calories upped a bit and was usually between 900-1000

Somewhere around the beginning of month 5 I think I was at 1200 and stayed there until I hit goal.

Just for a point of reference, I am now 4 years out and no longer exercise regularly. Consequently, 1200 calories seems to now be my maintenance range (or at best a very slow loss of perhaps 1-2 pounds a month).

Thank you!