Confused about calories and portions

I'm a little over 6 weeks out at this point and I think I'm doing pretty well so far despite these stupid ulcers.  I keep seeing posts on the main board about counting calories and portions sizes.  Do I need to be counting calories at this point?  I mean I keep track of what I eat on myfitnesspal.com but I don't ever worry about what the calorie number is.  I try to make sure my protein is over 80 and my carbs are under 50.  I'm still measuring portions at this point.  My NUT is pretty useless.  I spoke to her once before I went on the pre-op diet and that's been it despite countless messages.  I see my surgeon next week and I'll be sure to ask him.  

I'm hoping you veterans can tell me if I'm doing this right or not.  I do consume somewhere between 600-800 calories a day, but I've never had a real goal for calories.  Do I need one?  Some of this stuff is incredbily confusing sometimes.  You hear one thing from the surgeon's office and a million different thigns on OH.  I've taken a lot of advice I've read on here to heart such as my vitamins.  Sometimes it is hard to weed through what is crap and what isn't though.  

I apologize for the rambling, I blame the Vicodin I just took for my back.  Hopefully someone can tell me if I'm counting things right or not.  

I don't think counting calories is important.  I do think staying on your plan is important.  If you don't have a plan from your dr or Nut, google bariatric diets or your surgery.  Many Drs have different ideas and seems like they all have a different way they add foods back, but all in all, you will eat small portions and good food, not junk. 

My drs plan from about where you are till now is 4-6 meals a day, 2 oz protein, 2 oz veggie or fruit 2 protein drinks. No more that 2 starches a day, no white anything.  80-100g of protein a day.

sounds like you are doing really well to me. I as well try to keep carbs under 50 and get at least 60 grams of protein in..usually get closer to 80 than 60. I don't worry about my calories at all because I sill can't eat much at a time 9 months out..I tend to get between 600-800 (1200 is goal by 1 year according to my plan)...I say keep doing what you are doing it sounds like you are doing really well!!

A really common plan is:

600-800 calories
70-90 g protein
< 40 g carbs
< 30 g fats

It's not everyone's plan and not every plan has exactly those carb and fat limitations, but something in that ballpark is very common. Sounds like you are doing about that, too.

If it helps, here's what I ate the first year and how much I exercised and how many pounds lost:

http://fattyfightsback.blogspot.com/2010/07/calories-protein-carbs-exercise-weight.html

I'm just a little further out than you. At my 6-week appointment both the surgeon and NUT told me not to worry about calories, carbs, or fat YET. Concentrate on getting enough fluids and protein. When they said "yet" I took it to mean at some point I'll need to but at this early stage it's not all that important. I'll find out when I go back in another month. To me it sounds like you're doing OK.

My program was based on my height and dr's goal weight (5 ft, 132 lbs) was 65-80 grams of protein, 64+ oz of water, plenty of non-starchy veggies, and around 100 grams of carbs.  They told me that I should be at 1200 calories at 6 weeks, but then revised it to 1000.

I listen to my body more than what comes out of other people's mouths.  So, I can tell you I don't feel good at 1000 calories a day or 100 grams of carbs, and that's coming from a woman who doesn't sit down for more than 3 hours a day, climbs stairs several times a day, works out, and sleeps about 6 hours a night.

This month, I've averaged 750-850 calories daily, with 60-80 grams each protein and carbs.  Carbs come mostly from fresh from my garden veggies like spinach, lettuce, brocolli, etc.  I am religious about eating greens EVERY day, and i have no problems with constipation. 

tracey