Question:
Follow-up to a previous question on additional calories and exercise

I posted a question this morning re: now that I am working out (cardio and weights), should I be increasing calories? The consensus here on AMOS is a resounding YES! Yet, I have contacted my surgeon and he said he was not concerned at all about the amount of exercise that I'm getting, that the personal trainer (who is certified and a nutrition major)probably doesn't understand that I have plenty of fat stores to burn. I'm really concerned. My gym is considering revoking my membership unless I agree to take in more calories. Does this sound right to anybody? I think it sounds a little strange. Any suggestions? I feel like I want to ignore the MD advice, eat a little more (like add a protein shake or two) but what if this screws up my weightloss?    — lizinPA (posted on May 9, 2003)

May 9, 2003
Hi Beth! The fact that your gym thinks they have ANY business tracking your intake and using that information to decide whether or not you qualify to remain a member seems a bit shady to me. When I joined my gym I made it clear to the fitness manager that because of my surgery I would NOT be participating in ANY of their nutritional counseling, nor would I be providing and information about my food intake. I also made it clear that I would not be purchasing any of their supplements. You are the customer and as far as I'm concerned you could just as easily 'fire' your gym for failing to take the time to understand your altered needs as a WLS patient. Go to your trainer and arrange a meeting with him/her and the fitness manager at your gym.. Take some information about your surgery and if you can get it, a note from your doctor exempting you from their nutritional programing. If this doesn't get them off your back then you might think about changing gyms.. after demanding back and membership fees you've paid out. Just because someone has a degree in nutrition doesn't mean they are a God and that they should have the absolute say in the way ANY member chooses to eat. Please email me if I can be of help. ~Peace
   — Joscelin

May 9, 2003
I'm one of the people who answered your previous question, in which you reported that you work out 6 days a week for an hour(cardio), plus do weightlifting, plus you are just three months post-op, *plus* your doc doesn't want you taking in more than 300-500 calories a day until you're six months out, and has said he will not allow you to raise that calorie limit at this time regardless of your very high level of exercise activity. And now, your trainer says, if your doc says THAT, I won't train you, 'cause I'm worried about you taking in too few calories. Sigh. You really are on the horns of a dilemma here.<P>I disagree with the previous poster, who suggested the gym and trainer should have nothing to say about this. To the contrary, if I were training you, I'd be worried about your minimal calorie intake (and my liability). JMHO, but I think your gym and trainer are being conscientious, and that they are certainly acting no less stubborn that your doc is being.<P>On the one hand, you have the goals of wanting to heal up properly from surgery and wanting to lose weight in an optimal way following WLS. I can see your doc's concerns as far as those goals go. On the other hand, you seem to be pushing for developing really good new exercise habits, which help with another very important goal -- learning how to keep the weight OFF this time, for good, in the long run (and the "long run" is that part where our surgeons are no longer in the picture, for most of us). Don't give up on that long-run goal just because of this little bump in the road! I think with your dedication, you'll get to goal and do really well. :-D <P>Maybe a compromise is in order? What about postponing working out with the personal trainer til you are six months out, when your doc allows you to take in more calories. Meanwhile, you can work out on your own at the gym (just try not to look wan, or whatever the heck it is they're worried about here) in terms of cardio (fat-burning exercise), at whatever pace you feel you can handle on your current intake. I'd also go ahead and sneak in a couple of extra protein shakes a day ... they're a great habit to get into, and they don't cause you to overstuff your pouch, they don't cause you to develop bad eating habits, and they'll help with your exercise regime. See how all that works for you, and adjust accordingly as you go along. Then, at six months, when your doc sees you have indeed been losing weight despite adding protein shakes (gasp!) and the gym and trainer see you haven't keeled over on their treadmill (gasp!), maybe you can start up again, more productively, with the trainer. Maybe it'll be more fun to add things like weight-lifting gradually at that point, anyway. Three months seems like a long way away, but it flies. And maybe, if your weight loss starts to slow at six months, you'll be in a good position to keep it kicked in high gear by adding in your trainer at that time. Good luck!!
   — Suzy C.

May 9, 2003
Even though you have plenty of fat stores to burn, you will actually burn them FASTER by increasing your caloric intake. If I were you, I'd increase my caloric intake by a slight margin because you are doing so much work. I'm quite surprised that an MD would tell you to keep on eating 300-500 cals a day even though your basal metabolism is clearly higher than that. But be sure that these extra calories come from protein, as you want to be rebuilding those muscles and decreasing the fat.
   — Brittany C.

May 9, 2003
The surgeons goal is to see you lose as much weight as possible in the shortest period of time. I listen to my nutritionist over my surgeon. If I ate as little as he thinks I should I would be dragging my butt everywhere. I think that adding the extra calories with a protein shake is a great idea. I seriously doubt that it would mess with your weight loss at all. I have recently done the same thing and if anything it is better or at least the same as before the addition of an extra shake.
   — Carol S.

May 9, 2003
Original poster here and another giant THANK YOU to everyone who responded. I discussed everything with my nutritionist and guess what? She thought I was eating between 550-800 calories per day. She never told me I could increase after the first month, which makes me want to scream because there have been a few days during the past 3 months where I have been TRULY hungry and started beating myself up for it. So, now I can increase my calories and I will most likely do that by having a couple of protein shakes every day. I also went over this additional info with my personal trainer and the gym and they seem fine with it now. Thank you again to those who answered-- Beth
   — lizinPA