Target Calories?

[ouroborous 519]

So, here's an actual question that my last "I'm not losing fast enough" whinge didn't actually touch on: how do I figure out what my target calories should be during my loss & maintenance phases?

For reference, I'm a 39 y.o. male, 6'1 (and broadly built). I'd reckon that I've been eating around 1200 calories per day lately.

[CraftyChristie 62]

I hit on this in your other thread... but we are being told at our surgeon that we will be between 600-800 cals a day the first year (regardless male/female/weight/etc) once on solid foods... and that by around 1.5 to 2 years out we will be at 1200-1500 per day. So being on 1200 a day now when you are still doing liquids is probably not recommended. Did your surgeon give you any guidelines? I've seen other threads on here where people say to google nutrition guidelines vertical sleeve and that there is a lot of information out there. I hope this is helpful. :thumbup:

[goodlife 3]

Your surgeon should have given you caloric guidelines to follow.

My nut and surgeon said around 800/day.

[lmmore 0]

yep 800 a day

[Fatherjonz 0]

exercise would be part of the equation as well

[tiaras 0]

I'm just over 11 weeks out and have only just moved up to 800 calories a day in the past week. I don't start on solid food until I'm 12 weeks and even then I was told 800 is what I should be aiming for. I think I was anywhere between 450 and 650 at your stage. Hope this helps a little xx

[redroses47 1]

I was told was that I would be eating 'well under 1000 calories per day' simply because it was about the little volume I could take in. I believe the number was 600 - 800 calories.

I take into account the quality as opposed to quantity but I am not reading labels. Keeping it simple .. I stick with the healthy basics .. Protein from Protein drinks, chicken, fish or eggs, veggies, fruits and some dairy. That is all I want - for now.

[ouroborous 519]

Interesting... I was given *no* caloric guidelines.

The 1200 calories was a SWAG, I haven't been counting. It's just that I've had very little problems getting soft foods (liquids, yogurt) down.

Well, I'm seeing the nutritionist on Friday, so we'll see what she says I should do.

Thanks for the info!

[goodlife 3]

The nut should give you some guidelines.

And if she doesn't volunteer any, ask for some!

I should have clarified my original post. They told me 800 but that I wouldn't get there for a while...currently I'm getting in about 600/day.

[Swiftflow 6]

I don't really count calories either with the exception of every 4th day I try to get more than 1500 on what I call my maintenance calorie days. A regular day is likely under 800 though based on rough math-- I count protien and my Water intake an just try to limit carbs. I am testing a theory of 3 days on typical vsg food and one day increased calories to keep my metabolism up. Please note: this is not from a nutritionist or doc--I figured I would try it and see how it goes for a bit. I am out of town all week, so I have not been able to hit a scale. Clothes are getting very loose and the belt had needed to go in another notch this week.

Granted, I cannot eat that much food on my high calorie days--so I suppliment with "Suplimed" a well balanced weight gain drink on day4.

So far most food has just been like taking medicine--not hungry, but I know I need the nutrients.

Edited May 19, 2010 by Swiftflow

[ouroborous 519]

Yeah I could definitely eat less. I'm never hungry at all, and I just eat because I feel like I SHOULD eat, you know?

I'll talk to the nut. about it. Does the maintenance day help?

If your ticker is up-to-date, I think we're just about on par in terms of weight lost. I've just been focusing on getting enough Protein, Water, and Vitamins.

My discussion with the nutritionist should be interesting!

[deletedsally 8]

At 2-3 weeks after surgery, I was doing good to get in 400-500 calories a day. I'm averaging around 800 or less at 7.5 weeks. There's a great software program www.dietpower.com that you can download that is wonderful for tracking calories, carbs, Protein, etc... Free trial download.

[Swiftflow 6]

Yet to be determined--we will see if any stalls come. I have not updated since last Thursday since I am out of town. Hopefully it will drop quite a bit for Friday morning weigh in.

[redroses47 1]

Yeah I could definitely eat less. I'm never hungry at all, and I just eat because I feel like I SHOULD eat, you know?

I'll talk to the nut. about it. Does the maintenance day help?

If your ticker is up-to-date, I think we're just about on par in terms of weight lost. I've just been focusing on getting enough Protein, Water, and Vitamins.

My discussion with the nutritionist should be interesting!

I was curious after I posted last night and my rough intake yesterday was about 650 calories and not a moment during the day was I actually hungry. Hope you are feeling better today.

[ouroborous 519]

So far today, I've had:

• 1 premium Protein shake (160 cal, 30g Protein, 5g carb)
  
• 1 Chobani greek yogurt (120 cal, 16g protein, 13g carb)
  

I plan to have:

• 1 Jell-o sugar free chocolate pudding cup (60 cal, 2g protein, 14g carb)
  
• 1 cup Safeway Signature baked potato Soup (440 cal, 12g protein, 21g carb) -- this is my big "splurge" for the day
  
• 1 cup home made apple sauce (low sugar, don't know counts on this!)
  
• 1 more premium Protein Shake (160 cal, 30g protein, 5g carb)
  

So, if I use Nutrition Facts and Analysis for Applesauce, canned, unsweetened, with added ascorbic acid for the apple sauce (which makes it 102 cal, 0g protein, 27g carbs), this works out to 1142 calories, 90g protein, and 85g carbs.

That's a tad high on the carbs, great on the protein, and a bit high on the total calories. Omitting the baked potato Soup or swapping it for something different would probably help a lot (just omitting it would get me to about 800 cals, 78g protein, and 64g carbs, which is not too bad, and swapping the apple sauce would help my carbs).

Overall, I'm still losing weight like gang busters, so I'm not TOO worried, but I'll definitely talk to the nutritionist about this tomorrow.