CLOSE.....VERY CLOSE

[ruthie74 101]

So I am about 16 pounds away from my ultimate goal of 135! I don't have an appt with my nut till January but I plan on calling her sooner.

My question is since I am so close to my goal do I continue to eat 800-900 calories? Or do I eventually raise my calories?

I mean I want to eventually maintain my weight so I assume I have to increase my calories. Do I just experiment with my calories to see where I will be able to maintain? I'm wondering for those who reached their goal what they did?

Thanks for any advice in advance!!!

[RickM 1,750]

This is one of those big "it depends" issues - some docs would have you keep your calories constant until you hit goal and then figure out where to go, while others will be more flexible depending upon the patient's progress.

My take (and my doc's,) on it is that if you are getting close within six months post-op, then slowing things down and easing into goal is a reasonable thing to do. In my case, I was about ten pounds away at six months, and still losing at a consistent ten pounds per month rate (which implies around a 1000 calorie per day deficit,) so I started loosening things up some (but as it was that time of year, I mostly let the holidays happen!) and between that, holiday travelling (when I usually pick up a few pounds from Water retention due to altered exercise regimen and increased sodium intake from eating out more,) that slowed things down enough that it was mid January when I hit goal. I did ultimately drop another five pounds or so which pretty much defined the lower end of my five pound maintenance range.

How is your loss rate going - is it fairly consistent, and in range to hit goal within the next month?, two months? How firm is your goal weight - just a number, based upon BMI, or body composition, or lowest adult weight or other criteria? Some get to their goal weight and decide that they want to go another few pounds, so some flexibility there can be desirable - goal weight is ultimately up to you!

[ruthie74 101]

Thanks! That was vey helpful

[cubbies76 132]

One thing to consider is a metabolic test. Everyone's is different. My doctor has me do a 10-minute one where I have to breathe into a machine and it tells me what my rate is. You could use that test to work with your NUT on a detailed plan for you.

[ruthie74 101]

One thing to consider is a metabolic test. Everyone's is different. My doctor has me do a 10-minute one where I have to breathe into a machine and it tells me what my rate is. You could use that test to work with your NUT on a detailed plan for you.

Thanks! I will ask about that. Hopefully by my appt in January I will hit my goal of 135. I'm 15 pounds away from it and I know this sounds crazy but I really do hope I lose these last few pounds slowly. I am learning so much and once I hit 135 I have to continue learning how to maintain