How many cals? Maintaining?

I just went to the baratric support group here for the first time in a very, very long time. I heard for the first time that we should NEVER have went over 600-900 cals a day!!! I don't think that would have even maintained me when I was my lowest!?!?! Too bad I wasn't journaling my food intake at that time. What do you guys eat? I am getting about 800-1000 AFTER minusing my exercise burned cals each day, but not losing, so maybe... ??? I'm really confused at this point. They recommended going back to a nutritionist which I am going to do. Just wanted to see what others are doing for maintaining and if you've ever been told to keep a calorie count this low! Thanks!

Hugs!

I think the number will depend on fitness, activity level, etc.  My nutritionist thought I'd be around 1,400 but I'm actually at 2,000.

If you want to maintain, the plan is simple: if you gain, eat less, if you lose, eat more.

For losing, WHAT you eat is important.  When I was losing I got 875 calories a day, 30 mins of excercise per day, and ate 50% protein, 30% carb, 20% fat.

Okay thanks! I'm thinking my basic metabolism is crap. I was doing cardio (burned 500 cals there) then weights 3x a week, and gaining, not losing... i was getting 1200-1300 cals in per day...so SHOULD have seen a loss, but eh? Thanks for the %'s, I always was curious about how people balanced those out!  :)

 But what were you gaining?   If you were gaining muscle, then that's fantastic.  When I started working out, I lost 10lbs of fat and gained 20 lbs of muscle for an overall gain of 10lbs.   (I weigh every other month on a Tanita scale which tells me how much Fat-free Mass & fat I have)

Were you also taking measurements?   Measurements are a truer way to tell if you're eating the right amount because a pound of muscle is physically smaller than a pound of fat.    If you are gaining AND getting bigger, then yes, you need to change something.  

--BT

Wow, they told you to never go over 600-900 calories?!?! That's pretty low for the lot of us that exercise daily! I'd be passing out on 900 calories! I can eat 1800-2000cal to  maintain and if I need to lose a few will drop back to 1400-1500 cal. That said, I keep a pretty hectic workout schedule. I general walk 5miles 5x's per week, do weight training 2-3x's per week, use the recumbent bike for 30-60min several x's per week, at times instead of walking I will do one of the many workouts I have dvr's from FitTV like kick boxing, slowrobics, pilates,etc. I need the fuel (calories and good carbs) to burn. I track my food at thedailyplate.com. This is a common question around here and the best answer is that everyone's needs are different so it takes alot of trial and error to figure out what will work best for your body.

Forgot to add that I've been maintaining for the past 2yrs so I know its working for me

My surgeon's office instructed me to eat 600 calories per day until I lost 75% of my excess body weight.  I stayed in the 600-800 cal range until I lost it all and got to goal. But then, they said that I should have 1100 calories  a day once I was successful at losing the weight.  I stopped losing when I got it up to 1300 per day.  

Recently I did have more like 1800 to 2000 and started gaining a few lbs and so I have cut it back to lose those few lbs.  I am not very active these days as I stopped exercising but I have started back again. 

600-900 lbs???  That does not sound realistic or healthy for anyone as a maintenance plan.   That's about three protein shakes a day with water...

I eat 1500-1800 calories average weekly to maintain my 165 lbs with 2-3 days a week cardio and fairly active life...I can eat more than that, but I don't (I f I do I work out hard or cut cals for a few days)...I eat healthy and lean mostly.  100 g protein...100g carbs...25g  fiber...40 g fats  This seems to be what I always end up with at the end of the day...Give or take here and there.  I maintained my weight for 4.5 years...with an initial 7 lb gain at lowest weight...

In order to maintain a loss I eat between 1800 and 2400 calories a day.  I exercise 4x's a week and on those days I need to fuel the body.  If I drop below 1800 my weight stays the same.

I had a metabolism test done and to maintain my current weight I need to eat 1400-1800 calories a day.
My surgeon does proximal bypass, they reccomend people eat 1000-1200 calories a day for life, with a max of 1400, maybe 1500... however my NUT said the farther you get out the more 'general' the information and you really have to find out what works for *you*. I run and work out quite a bit and eat every few hours to keep my metabolism revved up.

Where do you get a metabolism test done??? thanks!