How many calories a day should I be consuming (roughly)?

I am four weeks post-op (VSG).  I've lost approximately 12 pounds since surgery.  I'm curious what the average amount of calories that I should be consuming a day?  I've talked with my NUT and she said 1600 (!) but that most WLS patients are only able to consume 600-800/day.  I saw a dietician and she indicated 1200/day.  I'm wondering what worked best for you, my fellow sleevers? 

Not a sleever here, RNY, but my Dr group had everyone doing the same pre and post op diets/phases.  We NEVER counted calories.  I only had a idea because I used the tracker on this site.  I think in the whole losing phase, 1 yr + or -, I didn't get to but maybe 1000.  We counted protein, that was it, and followed the 2-4 oz of protein, 1/4-1/2c veggie all the way.  Our goal after about 4-6 weeks was to have our protein to 80-100g.  We had very specific diets and it amazes me that other groups don't offer the same help to their patients. 

Thank you for your information! I appreciate it!

That's why they're called NUTS ;)  1600 just 4 weeks out I find unattainable.  If you tried to do that you either are A:  eating wrong foods to get that many calories in or B: stretching your sleeve to get the volume in.

I also had RNY but knew that I was lucky to get 500 calories a day in for quite awhile.  I just couldn't do volume.  The dietician may be talking about a "normal" person... I don't know but that is also too many for 4 weeks out.  There's a reason why they take part of your stomach out - so your volume is a LOT lower.... 

I also didn't count calories and like Price only knew because I put my meals into an online tracker.  I counted protein and fluid intake intially then got wise about carbs. 

Concentrate on your protein, fluids and vitamins.  The rest will happen! 

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate it!  I'm so worried about doing this "right"!

Being worried about "doing it right" is a good thing!  I worry about the ones who don't

I think this is a great question. I haven't had surgery yet,but this was something I had been wondering too. I think this is the hardest part for me to understand. I am an exercise science major and with the nutrition classes I have taken it is hard to wrap my mind around anything less than 1000 calories. But I know the surgery causes your intake to be much much lower and I understand it's more about the protein. I would imagine that after some time you would find your perfect caloric intake and be able to go from there. 

Congrats on your weight loss too! 

I became ocd with tracking everything for the first couple of months after surgery.  I didn't go anywhere without my little book. The first couple of weeks I was lucky to get 300 calories a day. By two months I was up to about 500.  Almost 5 months post op.  Hungrier and able to eat more I am getting in about 800 calories. 

I'm 7 months out from VSG. I get between 800-900 a day for the past 2 months. What I notice is that even if the calories stay the same the more protein the more weight loss. Doesn't sound like your Nutritionist is a bariatric specialist. Even when patients come back much after their surgery for regain the bariatric dietician at my clinic puts them on 800 calories a day to get them losing again. She says even though we haven't rerouted our intestines, we digest differently than preop and therefore we need less to lose. This is just one nutritionist advice.