600-800 calories!?

[Jachut 487]

Actually, that's a good point Julie, its the nutrition you need, not the calories while you still have weight to lose - my ob told me this during my last pregnancy, as he didnt want me to gain any weight during it. And I didnt either.

But how many people will make perfect choices? That's the trouble, the average woman requires a bare minimum of 1200 to get in adequate nutrition.

I eat about 1500 a day, and I've been logging recently on fitday. I dont do the high Protein thing, I eat lots of fresh fruit and veges and I have been quite surprised to see that I am still falling well below the RDA of many things - notably Iron (I get about 30% of my recommended daily Iron needs from my food), B Vitamins and I fall really short on zinc too.

I eat such tiny serves of meat now, that's what it is, since all those things are present in lean red meat and the like. Although my Protein levels are just fine, its the other things in meat that I need, and you can also get those things from wholegrains. How many women eating 800 calories a day are getting in a few 150g serves of lean red meat per week and their recommended 2 fruit and five vegetables every day? Eat the red meat and you wont be able to fit in enough oily fish and leafy greens for your Omega 3's. Its a real dilemma and its one I'm really having to think about now 14 months down the track as most of the weight is gone, but I"m starting to show signs of minor malnutrition in other areas. I was OK during the active phase of dieting as my body obviously had a lot of stores from years of being a good but huge eater.

That's the trouble. Some of us may have to make a choice between the size of our bodies and our health and longevity, if they cant lose at 1200 or so per day, that's the only real choice other than to exercise for 2 hours a day. Yes, you can cut down to 600 and lose, and you might feel just fine. But revisit in in 2 years time and it might be a different story, the ill effects of poor nutrition can take a while to show up.

[BabyGotBack 0]

Whats the Wendy Diet?

It was what we used to do in Weight Watchers to vary our points/calories everyday. For example, using calories, 1200, 1000, 1500, 1100, 800, 2000, 1300,

The key is to shock the body by going high and low. It worked and helped with plateaus. Then they created the core plan.

[BabyGotBack 0]

My nutrionist said to have between 1200-1500 calories a day, but to never force feed myself. Listen to my body!

[JulieNYC 4]

Actually, that's a good point Julie, its the nutrition you need, not the calories while you still have weight to lose - my ob told me this during my last pregnancy, as he didnt want me to gain any weight during it. And I didnt either.

But how many people will make perfect choices? That's the trouble, the average woman requires a bare minimum of 1200 to get in adequate nutrition.

I eat about 1500 a day, and I've been logging recently on fitday. I dont do the high Protein thing, I eat lots of fresh fruit and veges and I have been quite surprised to see that I am still falling well below the RDA of many things - notably Iron (I get about 30% of my recommended daily Iron needs from my food), B Vitamins and I fall really short on zinc too.

I eat such tiny serves of meat now, that's what it is, since all those things are present in lean red meat and the like. Although my Protein levels are just fine, its the other things in meat that I need, and you can also get those things from wholegrains. How many women eating 800 calories a day are getting in a few 150g serves of lean red meat per week and their recommended 2 fruit and five vegetables every day? Eat the red meat and you wont be able to fit in enough oily fish and leafy greens for your Omega 3's. Its a real dilemma and its one I'm really having to think about now 14 months down the track as most of the weight is gone, but I"m starting to show signs of minor malnutrition in other areas. I was OK during the active phase of dieting as my body obviously had a lot of stores from years of being a good but huge eater.

That's the trouble. Some of us may have to make a choice between the size of our bodies and our health and longevity, if they cant lose at 1200 or so per day, that's the only real choice other than to exercise for 2 hours a day. Yes, you can cut down to 600 and lose, and you might feel just fine. But revisit in in 2 years time and it might be a different story, the ill effects of poor nutrition can take a while to show up.

Admittedly, there are a lot of factors in getting proper versus poor nutrition. I, personally, can do it on 900 calories, most days (when chocolate doesn't get in the way). I'm 5'1, vegetarian, and an avid food logger. I always get 5 servings of fruit & veggies on that amount, as well as enough protein. I can't say what's right for anyone but me. But what I can say is that if your surgeon and/or your nutritionist (like mine) are telling you that 800 or so calories is where they see the most success during the weight loss phase, there are indeed people out there who are examples of this. It seems incomprehensible to the pre-bandster that that amount of food is nourishing and satisfying, but it is -- for many.

Laurend, my advice to you is to not worry about it. You'll find what range is right for you, whether it's 800, 1200 or 1500 calories. It'll come together for you with what feels right once you're in the middle of it. There's a lot of flexibility with the band.

[kebsa 1]

It is possible to get you RDA of nutrients in on a low calorie diet, it just takes more care and you do have to try to make sure that you make good food choices the majority of the time- thats fine for me, i have used food in non nutritional ways for a long time (food addict etc) so for me it is best to avoid potential problems completely- there are a few nutrients that I have to take care with and for those I supplement with Vitamin and mineral supps. This approach is not for everyone, for example, if I were not so immobile i would have a more average muscle mass and that alone would increase my BMR- I was scared to death when I was told I need to keep between 600 and 800 calories but it is working for me- we are all different- be guided by what your nutrionist and doctor suggest, they can monitor you accurately with blood tests occasionally to make sure you are having what you need

[Wheetsin 714]

If you have an active job, how do you cope with such a small amount of calories per day?

Honestly, I eat that on a good day.

But I don't really have an active job, either - corporate desk job with the occasional exception.

How do I cope - you know, I just forget to eat. I very, very rarely feel hunger. And I've moved beyond the mental grip that food had on me. So between the two, I tend to forget to eat. Sounds hard to believe, I know, especially from someone who weighed close to 400 lbs.

And what gets me is that I do this on minimal restriction. I mean - If I don't chew, or swallow too much, I know it - but... how can I explain this... I've never felt mechanical intervention in the quantity of food I eat.

I lost my appetite when I started the pre-op diet... and it NEVER came back. So I have no doubts that the band is doing its job... or as much if its job as it can with my fill level. I think to a very large degree I just got used to drastically reduced meals... stomach shrunk or whatever you want to call it... and I just fill up faster. I definitely have a differnet "stomach full" sensation than "band full", and usually hit stomach before band.

The other night I had a decent dinner and followed it up wth a Protein drink - was desperate for another 20 grams. And while I never felt the restriction or felt the band full, my stomach (real stomach, nt pouch) hurt, like it would before banding when I'd eat some huge meal.

Ah -- I'm rambling. The point is, for me anyway, it's easy because eating has become something much closer to "interrupts what I want to be doing" than "must do now". It's that whole eat to live, not live to eat thing. When you get there, which I think I am - for the most part - it's not that hard.

[anonemouse 1]

Well, one of the good things about having to swith surgeons might be getting a new nutritionist. I'm hoping that the new one will have a better plan.

[Jachut 487]

Hehehe, doctor shopping to get a higher calorie diet?

[anonemouse 1]

Hehehe, doctor shopping to get a higher calorie diet?

I wish. I found out after all my info was submitted to insurance that the surgeon I chose is out of network. So, new surgeon. The new one is several more hours away, but more experienced with lap-bands, so I am hoping this was a blessing in disguise. I had been having second thoughts about the original surgeon, anyway.

[RKidder 0]

Yup, my nutritionist said that based on my current hgt, wgt, Diabetes, activity level, current caloric intake, I should keep the calorie intake after banding to about 800 calories a day - and she said I may have trouble getting all of that in - but she said that is until I reach goal, then it will be recalculated for my specific needs.