Question:
How many calories should we consume daily - RNY patients

How many calories should RNY patients consume daily? How many calories should we consume daily for continual weight loss? I am a gastric bypass patient who previously had a lap band. My weight loss is so much slower than patients who had the gastric bypass only. Please help as not only is my weight loss slower but I'm standing still now for 2 weeks and I'm very discouraged.    — debokin (posted on September 10, 2009)

September 10, 2009
I had my surgery in March of this year and I've gone from 290 to 195 pounds. My weight loss has definitely slowed down to about 1-1.5 pounds/week. I think I am eating about 1,000-1,100 calories/day. I think I need to do more exercise. How much are you exercising daily/weekly? I think each person is different and we all hit plateaus during our weight loss journey. Please try and not get discouraged. Do you attend any support group meetings? Have you discussed this with your weight loss surgeon?
   — rkurquhart

September 11, 2009
Hi ! It really depends on where you are in your weight loss journey. I am 15 months out RNY and have been maintaining for about 5 months. I consume about 1300-1500 a day with exercise. Back when I was losing I was told to eat about 600-800 a day. i was eating 2 ounce meals 3 times a day, no snacking and exercising about 30 mins a day with about an hour of walking 4 times a week. I lost 120 to go from 237 ( a size 22) to 116 (a size 4). I got off all my meds within the first 2 weeks and have been feeling great since. Your body goes thru times when it has to catch up to all the weight loss and this is uaually a plateau. If you are unsure or have any questions, talk to your nutritionist. Mine has email and I relied on her greatly during the loss time. Even when I hit goal and kept losing, I was emailing her. Your nut is there for help. Best of luck to you and don't get discouraged! It isn't an overnight thing and slow is sometimes better...gives you the chance to firm up that skin!! lol Hugs, n God Bless, Kim
   — gpcmist

September 12, 2009
Plateaus happen, this is totally normal. Your total calories are generally based on your height and affected by activity level. Early out, calories don't really mean a whole lot due to the limited pouch capacity. You can't consume enough for it to really matter. Doesn't mean you shouldn't journal your intake but you don't need to worry that you're eating too much. You're not unless you're downing high calorie liquids. I was told by my NUT to focus on getting in a minimum of 60g of protein per day and progress it to 80+ grams the farther out I get. I'm 4 months out now and generally eat 800-900 calories and 80g+ protein. My nut prescribed 1,200 cal/day to maintain after I reach goal. I am 5'-7". You also can consume more calories based on your activity level. The more physical you are, the more you can eat because you are burning off more. Having WLS doesn't change the need to eat right and exercise for the rest of our lives so just know you will have these stalls but then all of a sudden you'll drop like 4-5 lbs, gain a couple back and then drop 3-4. It's crazy. I guess that's why they refer to it as a "ride". Good luck to you!
   — Arkin10