Am I eating enough?

[Tiffykins 673]

I can tell you that I low carbed (no more than 30gr a day), and ate between 600-800 calories per day for my entire losing phase which lasted 6 months. Close to 600 for the first 2-3 months, and then was up to 800 by my 4th month because I had already lost 80lbs.

In maintenance, I HAD to consume 1300-1500 calories per day to NOT lose weight. So, in my humble opinion, and based on my experience, my nut's advice, my surgeon's experience, and guidance, my metabolism has not been shot by being on a low calorie, low carb diet for 6 months of my life.

I had plenty of fat stores, I also do not believe at all in starvation mode, I think the body is a miraculous, well-adapting thing that will adapt to your nutritional and weight needs as time progresses. I think our body holds onto weight in responses to stress, and sodium intake and the inevitable stalls because of rapid weight loss initially which is a lot of Water weight. I never experienced a true stall which means no weight, and no inches lost for a minimum of 14 days. Not once did my scale not move, or drop a couple of inches and I can assure you I was rigid, and strict in my losing phase. But in maintenance, and especially in pregnancy, it's a different story.

Your BMR will change as you lose weight, you're body fat % will decrease while your muscle mass increases, and your body will adjust.

You won't be eating 500 calories a day forever. I honestly do not know of one single VSG'er that is 2-5 years out that eats below 1200-1500 calories a day in maintenance, and have been able to stabilize their weight. Now, some of them still restrict carbs pretty strictly, but I do not. I still eat Protein first, and then I eat green veggies and starches.

[lsereno 2,525]

Kelly,

Which Kaiser in Nor Cal did you go through? Kaiser Fremont counts Protein and calories. I know each bariatric center has different requirements for surgery, but I didn't realize the aftercare was different too.

Lynda