Calorie limits for success?

[ahoy 3]

Hey, successful sleevers... can you tell me what your target calorie numbers were for the losing period?

My doc waved his hand and said something about "a thousand," but that is way higher than anything I've heard from anyone else, AND he is operating under the assumption that I will need another operation (like RxY) to "finish" the weight loss. Well, I'll be damned if I do. He may be a brilliant surgeon but he is clearly not invested in my personal success off the operating table. No way I am going to swap my fully functional little stomach for a reroute.

Your guidance is appreciated.. especially if you've lost around 100lbs or more.

Possibly useful factoids: I'm 27, 5'6", 295lbs & sleeved May 25. I need to lose about 120-135lbs (I was a trim size 8 at 165lbs when I was 16). I have a hard time being very active because of fibromyalgia (ex: there is no way I can take up weightlifting any time soon).

Thank you so much!

[Tiffykins 673]

600-800 calories, no more than 30-40gr of carbs, and 60+ grams of Protein per day. 4 meals a day, each meal consisting of a minimum of 15gr of protein, no Snacks. I was 5'2", starting VSG weight was 263, and my maintenance weight was 125-130lbs so I assure you it can be done. I dropped the first 115lbs in 6.5 months to get me to goal weight of 150lbs, and dropped another 23-25lbs over another 4 months. I also want to add that I didn't work out at all for the first 4 months, and I only worked out for 4 months up to 8 months post-op until I had my gallbladder removed and was put on restricted activity.

[apple-saucy 17]

I average about 800 calories...I CAN get in 1000 but that's when I haven't made wise choices. I eat 3 "meals" and 2 Snacks (meaning a piece of cheese or other low carb high Protein option..not chips or crackers) I keep the carbs in check and the protein above 60. All meals are around 150-200 calories snacks are 80-100 calories.

[meggiep 57]

Tiff is the expert- follow her plan and you can't go wrong though everyone needs to see what their body does!

However re exercise- you can walk- walking is so good for fibro AND for weight loss so you can't go wrong doing that. Also - I do Water aerobics five days a week and the classes are KICK BUTT workouts- and there is no pressure on your body so for fibro as well as bck and knee problems etc. it is HEAVEN! Seriously, when I went back into the Water for the first time Tuesday the class was lined up treading water and watching me and I went into total bliss as soon as I was floating- with my cold the week before surgery it had been almost a full month since I had that feeling of weightlessness. I am not cleared for core work yet but the water walking is giving my legs and arms a killer workout, I am sore!

For some reason I have been told 80 grams protein- I sure hope as I have lost some weight that it will come down to a much more manageable 60!

[lsereno 2,525]

Kaiser Fremont guidelines are 400-600 calories per day during Stage III (soft foods), which generally lasts from Week3-6 and I think 800 per day for Stage IV (All foods) during the active losing phase and then 1200-1500 calories per day when you reach goal.

Lynda

[1-4-Many 2]

No question that Tiffyikins is expert. But I'm convinced some of it depends on you as an individual. And I firmly believe a component is how often you have dieted and yo-yo'd in your life. I have watched several friends go down this path and the two that did the best the easiest were the two who were not "dieters". Yes, they tried to lose weight but frankly, if they stayed on any plan for more than 3 or 4 weeks, I do not remember it. Those of us who have lost large quantities, swung back and forth, I think we've done a number on our systems. This is another reason why I think it's great that young people like yourself are getting on board and doing this early to take back your life. And attitude. The fact that you are going in determined this will be your life and lifestyle without a second surgery is going to go a long way to get you there.

And it is hard to believe that someone under 30 could not settle into a 1k calorie a day diet and be very trim and healthy. But you'll do what your body tells you is necessary. And I'll bet you do well.

[Roseib 13]

Hi, Tiffykins and some others are the role models for us, having reached goal and maintaining. I still have a ways to go, but started at 385.5 at age 62 (now 63) and have lost over 140 pounds at 11 months out. I plan to keep going until I reach goal (150, but I'd like to be at 140). Might take 2 years or more, but I will keep at it. Btw, I have been up to now able to workout very little - -just used seated exercise videos b/c of severe osteoarthritis in knees.

I stay between 600-800 calories a day although I was told in February at 8 months out I should be taking in 800-1000. The reason I'm lower is the doctor wants us to eat only 3 meals a day and with my restriction, I can't eat enough even this far out from surgery to get in more than 600-700 calories most days.

My summer schedule now permits me to do Water aerobics and land exercise at a fitness center and meet with a trainer once a week and I am more active, but that 140 plus pounds came off without vigorous exercise. Water aerobics has been great for my arthritic knees. The hot spa pool after aquatics also helps with the pain. Wish I could have exercised more vigorously early on when I lost more quickly, but I'm happy with my first year loss.

[Tiffykins 673]

No question that Tiffyikins is expert. But I'm convinced some of it depends on you as an individual. And I firmly believe a component is how often you have dieted and yo-yo'd in your life. I have watched several friends go down this path and the two that did the best the easiest were the two who were not "dieters". Yes, they tried to lose weight but frankly, if they stayed on any plan for more than 3 or 4 weeks, I do not remember it. Those of us who have lost large quantities, swung back and forth, I think we've done a number on our systems. This is another reason why I think it's great that young people like yourself are getting on board and doing this early to take back your life. And attitude. The fact that you are going in determined this will be your life and lifestyle without a second surgery is going to go a long way to get you there.

And it is hard to believe that someone under 30 could not settle into a 1k calorie a day diet and be very trim and healthy. But you'll do what your body tells you is necessary. And I'll bet you do well.

I agree with you 100% on the bolded selection! ! !

I added up the weight I had lost and gained over a decade of dieting. Everything from PhenFen, Weight Watchers, Atkins, SlimFast, fastings and cleanses, and it added up to me losing and regaining the 400lbs ! ! ! I'm a pro-dieter, I could lose weight, but keeping it off was my nemesis. I only "dieted" through my losing phase, but it didn't feel like dieting. I can't explain it other than I seriously didn't have room for other stuff, Protein was such a heavy focus that I just didn't get room for extra foods.

And, I promise I don't consider myself an expert by any means. I'm just an expert at what worked/works wonderfully for my body. I'm praying that after Sprout's arrival, I have the same success with getting the pregnancy weight off by low carbing it.

[Heatherr 149]

...just feel like I have to put my NON expert opinion out there as food for thought....

Tiffykins is a great role model and I have been pretty much following that plan as my pre op diet (with a few more calories) and losing well.

Having said that, isn't Tiff very petite? I just think 600 calories is very low for someone who is 5'8. So, those of you who are male or taller women, maybe try to end up on the higher side of that 600-800.

I only say this because 600 calories for a tall person seems very low.

[Tiffykins 673]

...just feel like I have to put my NON expert opinion out there as food for thought....

Tiffykins is a great role model and I have been pretty much following that plan as my pre op diet (with a few more calories) and losing well.

Having said that, isn't Tiff very petite? I just think 600 calories is very low for someone who is 5'8. So, those of you who are male or taller women, maybe try to end up on the higher side of that 600-800.

I only say this because 600 calories for a tall person seems very low.

I'm super short LOL 5'2" on a good day.

[samantha209 19]

600-800 calories, no more than 30-40gr of carbs, and 60+ grams of Protein per day. 4 meals a day, each meal consisting of a minimum of 15gr of Protein, no Snacks. I was 5'2", starting VSG weight was 263, and my maintenance weight was 125-130lbs so I assure you it can be done. I dropped the first 115lbs in 6.5 months to get me to goal weight of 150lbs, and dropped another 23-25lbs over another 4 months. I also want to add that I didn't work out at all for the first 4 months, and I only worked out for 4 months up to 8 months post-op until I had my gallbladder removed and was put on restricted activity.

i have been doing 3 meals and 2 Snacks but i am gonna try 4 meals

[1-4-Many 2]

I agree with you 100% on the bolded selection! ! !

I added up the weight I had lost and gained over a decade of dieting. Everything from PhenFen, Weight Watchers, Atkins, SlimFast, fastings and cleanses, and it added up to me losing and regaining the 400lbs ! ! ! I'm a pro-dieter, I could lose weight, but keeping it off was my nemesis. I only "dieted" through my losing phase, but it didn't feel like dieting. I can't explain it other than I seriously didn't have room for other stuff, Protein was such a heavy focus that I just didn't get room for extra foods.

And, I promise I don't consider myself an expert by any means. I'm just an expert at what worked/works wonderfully for my body. I'm praying that after Sprout's arrival, I have the same success with getting the pregnancy weight off by low carbing it.

Yep, I was a fantastic dieter. I would hate to even begin to add my number up but then I'm much older. As I said, you were just among the smart ones who nipped it in the bud bless your heart! Anyone can deprive themselves for a window of time, but forever wasn't in the cards for me.

And I will just say that I have learned a lot from reading what you've shared. Guess I'm hoping you actually know what you are talking about. (JK, you know)

[Tiffykins 673]

Yep, I was a fantastic dieter. I would hate to even begin to add my number up but then I'm much older. As I said, you were just among the smart ones who nipped it in the bud bless your heart! Anyone can deprive themselves for a window of time, but forever wasn't in the cards for me.

And I will just say that I have learned a lot from reading what you've shared. Guess I'm hoping you actually know what you are talking about. (JK, you know)

I've done a lot of research on how the body adjusts and adapts. I knew that I would not ever be "dieting" for life, but a lot of that has to do with me recognizing my weaknesses. I can also say that I had a couple of major driving forces behind me getting to goal quick, and then figuring out maintenance once I got there. 1) with the complications I had, my husband was deployed and I had to "get better", I cared about my weight loss numbers, but my main goal was to be healthy upon his return 2) We wanted a baby 3) I had the band, and it failed miserably even though I worked the crap out of that thing so failing with the sleeve was not even an option nor did I allow those thoughts to enter my mind.

Rum/cokes are my arch nemesis, and I did see a true gain over the holidays because of copious partying, alcoholic beverages and every type of party food you can imagine. BUT, I didn't go back to dieting or even low carbing after my 3 month long binge, I just went back to my normal eating routines, and BAM lost those pounds pretty quickly.

[ahoy 3]

Thanks all, this is super helpful! (BTW - in case it wasn't obvious... I'm a girl

Tiffykins, you're an inspiration! Thank you so much for your advice. I will cut down to 800 and see how I feel. My #1 goal is to be healthy, too. Cuz of my CFS/fibro, I am a pretty decrepit 27-year-old and it's killing me Anything is better than this... even a RxY, but thanks to advice like yours, I know it doesn't have to come to that!

lsereno, thanks for the facts.

Roseib, wow!! Congrats! If your story were my story, I would be ELATED. Thank you!

Heatherr, good point about the height. I will start out at the higher range I am also SUPER muscly for a girl & always have been. Underneath the soft fat wrapping, I have some amazing guns But my surgeon doesn't particularly believe this so I don't believe that had anything to do with his 1000 calorie recommendation.

1-4-Many, thank you for the pep talk As you said...

But I'm convinced some of it depends on you as an individual. And I firmly believe a component is how often you have dieted and yo-yo'd in your life.

Ah, then maybe I'm a lucky one! I've attempted weight loss a few times, but was never able to lose more than 30-40lbs on purpose. I gained all the weight quickly due to a side effect of the evil horrible Depo Provera (glucose intolerance). Was never really able to shake much of it off because the only diet that worked (low carb) gave me unrelenting and, um, "explosive" digestive problems. I never did serious calorie restriction, either, after discovering it DIDN'T WORK AT ALL for me during my depo provera gain. Some weight did just "fall off" over a few years (almost 80lbs) but I gained 60 of it back thru 2 bouts of mono/steroids in 2003 and then 2009.

Oops, that was an essay. Point: I've never been a serious dieter or lost serious weight thru dieting. So perhaps my laxity is actually going to turn out to be a plus, after all?

All told, I think I've got a very easy pouch w/o much swelling. I can drink Water pretty fast without discomfort and I could totally eat 1000 calories a day eating healthy mushy foods. But I also am not hungry, so hopefully I'll have no probs cutting back to 800! *crosses fingers*

[janinemaire 7]

Hi ahoy, I think when you start eating real Protein like chicken you will feel it unlike mushy protein or food. I'm 7 months out I still can barely eat 3 oz of food. I eat around 800-900 calories a day and I don't feel like I'm on a diet. I also could not eat low carb before the surgery, it really bothered my stomach all the protein. Now carbs bother my stomach. Things sure change after we get the sleeve, good luck: ) Janine