Question:
7 Weeks Post Op- Need advice on daily calorie intake

Does anyone have any nutrition info for post ops that specifies how many calories, carbs, fat, protein we should eat per day? I know Protein is key. Just started a daily journal on fit.com need to make sure I on the right track. Just found a new nutritionist but can't get in to see her till end of month. I am 7weeks post op down 31 pds and on aplateau for almost 3 weeks.    — Jeana C. (posted on May 2, 2003)

May 2, 2003
My surgeon told me at 10 weeks post-op that I sould be getting between 50 and 60g of protein a day and at LEAST a 1000 calories. He would have preferred that I get 1200 calories but I had to struggle to get 1000; when he told me that I was getting about 500. I am now 17 months post-op, have lost 181 pounds and he wants me to have about 1400 calories a day. Hope this helps.
   — Patty_Butler

May 2, 2003
I am 4 1/2 months post-op. In speaking with different people about this, every surgeon has their own take on what a patient should be eating. Your last nutritionist should have outlined all that for you. Shoot for 60 grams of protein per day (1 ounce of meat/fish = 7 gms of protein). Try and drink 1 protein shake per day. Don't worry about the calories right now. Just stick with protein, protein, protein. You won't be able to put more than 800 calories in at this stage of the game. If you are really stuck, call the hospital nutritionist where you had your surgery. They are there to answer your questions too. Good Luck. If you need more info, please write me: [email protected]
   — Meg T.

May 3, 2003
While you should speak with your nutritionist or surgeon and follow their program for you, this is what my nutritionist wrote to me in a recent email remarding similar concerns on my part:<p> The first year, most stay around 900 calories.</p><p> Carb situation ---goal is as follows: 45 grams from starch 30 grams from fruit 12 gms from milk</p><p>Remeber every program does things differently. Many people on AMOS say no more than 20 grams of carbs, but my nutritionist says around 90 is okay. I try to stay below 30 grams and am still in ketosis, so, I must be doing something right. BTW, my average daily calorie intake is between 700 - 900. I have no problem eating 3/4 cup of food in each meal/snack and I feel physically hungry between each meal, and have a good apetite, even when I am not "hungry" for anything in particular. Everyone is so individual in how they respond to this surgery. Many blessings.
   — rebalspirit

May 3, 2003
Forgot to say, I'm 7 weeks post-op and -30 lbs as of 5-1/2 weeks.
   — rebalspirit

May 3, 2003
I think fitday.com is a great way for you to monitor how you're eating -- I started doing it at about 2.5 months out, and still track daily at 11 months out (at goal for two months). It has helped me along the way, every time I adjusted my calories upwards, so I could see exactly how I was doing that. I don't know what your doc/nutritionist recommends for seven weeks out, but I know that I "did" about 900-1000 calories a day from about three months out until seven months out, then upped the calories to 1200 a day, and up, stopping (or trying to!) at 1700 calories a day when I got to goal/maintenance. It kills me to have to track even the bad days, where I eat scary amounts, but I've noticed I still manage to recover from those episodes. Journaling it on fitday.com forces you to stay on top of your eating through all the phases of post-op life. Good luck!
   — Suzy C.

May 5, 2003
You know, you are going to find that the answers to this will vary a LOT! I am now 13 weeks and just had my 3 month check up and told my primary (internal medicine) that I was only able to eat 400-500 calories a day and his eyes almost popped out of his head. Then, he started thinking, and talking, and said that every person has a different metabolic rate, and that every person is going to require different things (caloires/exercise) to lose their weight. But, if I was still losing 3-5 pounds a week on 400-500 calories a day, (walking 45 min. a day, and doing weights 3 times a week) then I must just have a VERY slow metabolism - and by forcing myself to up my calories I might find that it would only slow things down and cause the natural stomach stretching process to speed up which would only be to my disadvantage. On the other hand, if I seem to stall out where I am at, it could indicate that I am going into starvation mode and should then try to up things a bit. Then, to my slight disappointment, he also said that I may find that I may never be able to eat more than 1000-1200 calories a day...EVER...to maintain my final weight. So, I guess I wouldn't worry too much about everyone else's plan and just look at your own eating habits, exercise, water, etc. and then try tweaking it for a week or two (up or down) and see what is going to work for you.
   — eaamc

May 5, 2003
Thank you Everyone for your replys
   — Jeana C.