Is it subjective?

[sbrick 8]

Hey all! Since I was banded in November, I've lost 32 pounds! Yay!

Even though that's means to shout and Celebrate, the real reason I'm posting is a question about calories. I just wanted an opinion from you guys. Most of us know how many calories we need to intake per day in order to lose weight. Well, does it vary between patients? Some people say they steadily lose weight and eat about 800 calories per day. Some people say 1,000. Some 1,200. Do you guys think that it just varies with different people as to how many calories we should intake with the band in order to lose weight? I just remember being on WW and the leader telling me that my weightloss stall happened because I wasn't taking in enough calories per day. I think this has happened again because I haven't lost any weight in nearly two weeks. I've probably answered my own question about just raising my caloric intake to more than 800 but I just wanted an extra opinion. Sometimes, that helps!

Thanks!

[zeniada 9]

I am 6 mos out and still havent found my ideal caloric intake but I try to stay between 1000-1200 a day that seems to help me lose.

[emjay 8]

sbrick - it is different for everyone.

It depends on alot of factors - if you exercise, you get to eat more because you are burning more calories. Also, you're age, heredity/genes, obviously what you eat and volume has an effect.

On too low of a limited intake, your body can start to conserve calories (some call it starvation mode) due to the limited amount being eaten as it fights to conserve energy.

You're best bet may be to increase your caloric intake to 1000 calories...keep track of what you eat, the types of foods you eat (limit sugar, starch, "white foods" - like flour, Pasta, bread, rice, sugar, processed foods, and drink plenty of Water. Keep up your Protein levels to help maintain or build muscle tone. Try this for a couple of weeks and see what happens.

You may very well have to adjust your intake depending on your metabolic rate (if 1000 calories is not enough - up it to 1100 or more if you are exercising strenuously) until your rate of loss is 1-2 lbs per week. Shoot for slow and steady...it's not a race. If you can't seem to figure out what your optimal rate is - you can get your metabolic rate tested to find out.

There is an app for smartphones called myfitnesspal (they probably have a website too but I haven't looked at it) that is very easy to track your calories, exercise and weight and helps to keep you focused on your goal and your progress.

Good luck to you!

[thsisme 14]

I think Emjay said it all. The rate in which we lose is varied and sometimes it is a matter of experimentation. i just finished uping my carb,fat, protein/caloric intake by 100 calories to get back to losing at my optimal rate for me.

[HeatherinCA 10]

I think it depends on your body and how active you are.