Question about calories

Had my surgery five years ago and have since gained lots of my lost pounds back.  Going on a low-carb diet and wondering if I eat l500 calories a day, would I count that as 1500 or is there still lost calories?  I take plenty of vit., min, and calcium.  Thanks for your opinion.

I can offer my opinon on that..calories are calories. It's a matter of calories in and calories out..Whatever you burn in calories, if you take in less than that, you'll lose..

A low carb diet is okay but high protein will be hard on your kidneys so drink plenty of water..and not caffeine..Also, be sure and not cut out the good carbs like raw veggies. I know they are high in carbs and the numbers look bad but they are really really good for you..

Dawn...thank you for your reply.

I would say a calorie is still a calorie.  You can do low carb if you like but, like mystical "lost calories", that isn't going to make the diet any easier: Calories are King.

I think the best plan is to eat they way you plan on eating for the rest of your life.  Honestly, it doesn't do any good to be Low Carb for a while and then "go back to normal" since we all know where that leads!

Don't forget Cardio!  If you add excercise and burn an extra 300 calories, you can satisfy your inner food addict and eat 150 or 200 more calories and still get a little net calorie deficit.

jl....thanks for your reply.

Go back to the basic rules:
1) Get at least 60 grams of lean protein (chicken breast, turkey breast, pork loin, fish)
2) Drink at least 64 oz of water
3) don't drink with your meals, or for 30 min before and after
4) eat your protein first, then veggies, then carbs if there's any room left
5) take your vitamins
6) exercise, even if it's just walking

You three have done so well.  Encourages me to get back on plan.  Thanks for all your help.

I'm 9 yrs out and I stick to 1000-1200 calories per day to maintain my loss. My doc has us work up to 1000-1200 calories by one year out and to stick to that pretty much forever after that. I adjust it up or down for my exercise amounts. A sedentary day I go down to 8-900 calories, days I exercise more I do at least 1200 sometimes a bit more depending on the kind of exercise. If you want to lose, I think you need to go below what you will eventually get back up to for maintenance. Most have to cut down to 800 approx. daily to lose, then go back up a bit when they've lost the excess they wanted to lose. There are no lost calories ever- a calorie is a calorie and our absorbtion fixes itself after a while - most say by 2 yrs. out. We are to count everything we eat and add it up for a daily caloric total.
Jen - 9 yrs post op

Hi everyone

I lurk here sometimes and thought I'd put in my 2 cents. I have been working with a low cal diet also take in 800-1200 calories depending on my activity level.
It isn't the easiest, but it it always works!