Question:
I am confused on how many calories is too many or how little is too little....

I understand that "starvation mode" kicks in and it is hard to lose. I have had 1/2 a designer whey drink, 2 sticks of string cheese and 8 small wheat thins, and 4 bites of a chicken breast today. All of that equals 438 calories. I'm not losing fast by any means, very slow in fact, a friend that had the surgery says I am not eating enough and that if I don't eat enough I won't lose because it will be "starvation mode", If I eat more won't that be to much for 9 weeks post op (today). I spend so much time trying to drink the protein drinks, they make me sick, then I don't want anything. Can somebody lead me to the light?    — Sugarbaker2001 (posted on December 30, 2002)

December 30, 2002
It does sound a little low on calories to me. I believe at your stage I was up to 600 a day. Its true that if your body thinks you are starving it, it will try to hold onto to the weight longer. Try adding another protein food to your day, or a protein bar(better than shakes!). See if that helps.
   — Cindy R.

December 30, 2002
I'm almost 9 weeks (will be on Thursday) and my surgeon wants me to be around 1,000 calories a day. I was on a 3 week plateau which just broke (yippee!!) and I think upping the calories plus walking more helped to do it. I'm an open RNY started at 333lbs and now at 288!!! Do you like yogurt? It has good protein for not many calories. And cheese, I eat a lot of cheese for protein. Good luck!
   — Pamela R.

December 30, 2002
Wow, that seems like very little to me -- indeed, 600 calories seems to low to me. I'm 10 weeks out, and I average between 800 -1000 calories a day. I don't focus on calories, though, but on protein, and try to get in 100 g. a day. Do you have a nutritionist you can talk to? Good luck.
   — Tamara K.

December 30, 2002
Thanks you guys, I have been waiting for an answer to this all day. I emailed my Dr. Office but with the holidays, they may not be answering emails today. I know we are not supposed to count calories, but I have been afraid. When I did WW's before surgery, I would concentrate on my points so much and get them all counted before I ate them, and then end up not eating all of it, and they told me I was not eating enough. Don't get me wrong, sounds like I am saying I don't eat much normally, I didn't get overweight by not eating, but when I try to lose, I have always come closer to starving myself for a while, not losing and then giving up and going back to old habits. I do not want to do that, So tonight I added some chicken breast and another string cheese. Thanks for your help. Happy New Year!
   — Sugarbaker2001