eating too much?

[violin08 13]

I am in my fourth week now and on soft foods. I track everything in myfitnesspal and am consuming my 60 g of Protein a day and staying below about 60 carbs a day. I don't worry too much about fat, but my calorie intake stays under 1000. Sugar grams are usually very low. I currently weigh 202, and my goal is 130-140. Will I get there this way? I have been reading a lot on this site and it seems there are folks out there limiting themselves to 500-600 calories a day. That seems like not enough to me. I have been stalled with my weight loss for a little over a week now, although I'm told that is normal at this time in the process. Any advice would be appreciated. I know exercise will help and I need to start that. Am I eating too much?

[fezik23 240]

My dietician has emphasized not to count calories. If you are getting the Protein, Water, and activity, you will lose. I have encountered two stalls already and I'm just two months out.

[Teresah18 6]

I'm not sure what kind of surgery you had to really comment. My nutritionist told me to eat 60-80 grams of Protein a day, less than 15 grams of carbs per meal and less than 5 grams of fat per meal. I'm not to worry about calories although I never take in more than 900 a day. I had lap band surgery.

[LindafromFlorida 1,542]

After the sleeve, our surgeon said: 1) Do not eat 3 meals a day. 2) Do not eat unless you are really hungry 3) Do not count Proteins, calories, fats, etc 4) just eat Healthy. We have abided by the rules and are are happy with the results. We are 67/68, so it might be our age, but I can tell you, even though we cannot jog, run, exercise, and swim through the mud, we are still happy! We are climbing stairs, kayaking, walking, swimming, and one year ago we could barely move. Different strokes for different folks! Good luck everyone as you find your way.

[violin08 13]

That helps. Thank you all. Keep it coming!

I stick to the Protein and carb counting religiously, but what about fat? Teresah, your nutritionist said no more than 5 grams of fat per meal. That's not much. I have more than that, but still stay well within my carb limits and sugar limits, as well as under 1000 calories. Hopefully I will still see success with it. The weight has got to start coming off again soon. I mean, geez....I'm eating WAY less than I did when I had a normal sized stomach. We will see.

[Teresah18 6]

It may not seem like much but I eat 6 small meals a day. My surgery was 3 months ago and so far I've lost 35 pounds!

[violin08 13]

Good for you!!!! Perhaps I need to cut back on the fat grams too, then. If I don't see the scale move soon, I will do that.

Thanks!

[Kindle 8,667]

I don't and never have counted calories or carbs or fat. For the first few months I just concentrated on Water, Protein and Vitamins. I keep track of my fluids in my head as the day goes on so I know I'm getting 64oz. I have a 30-40g protein smoothie everyday. And other than that it's pretty much like LindafromFlorida said.... I eat when I'm hungry and I eat a healthy, balanced diet of protein, veggies, fruit and whole grains. I am active but I don't exercise. I weigh once a week so I have something to put on my ticker and I never worried about stalls. I'm 17 pounds under my surgeon's goal and 7 under personal goal. I couldn't have asked for a better life. Don't get too hung up on numbers.... Just trust the process and enjoy the NSV's.

[violin08 13]

Thanks, Kindle. Your comments are encouraging. Congratulations on exceeding your goal!!!! I need to put away the scale but it's so tempting to step on it every morning!!! Of course, then I get frustrated and start my day out in a bad mood. I'm sure that's healthy.....

Thanks again.

[bikrchk 1,313]

I did! Starting at 235, (I'm 5'6"), I dropped 90 pounds in 9 months on 1000-1200 calories during my loss phase and have been at goal for over a month. I get 75+g of Protein daily and have been exercising 5x per week since about month 3. I never "tried" to count calories, but I was counting Protein religiously and logging everything in MFP so I know where I was landing calorie wise. I CAN tell you I probably wouldn't have lost like that, (and my loss was intentionally slow compared to many folks here), without the exercise boost. When I started exercising, I was burning 600+ calories per stationary bike ride per my chest strap HR monitor. I burn significantly less now that I am fit, (about 350-400, if that), but it helps with my metabolism and gives me the padding I need to eat what I like in small quantities now.

Now that I'm in maintenance I do keep one eye on calories as I'm trying to figure out what range I need to maintain. MFP calculates my resting BMR at 1300 per day. Add 350 in exercise calories to that, (I try to eat them back now that I'm done losing), and I feel like I've reset my metabolism at a VERY manageable place for maintenance. So it depends on your activity level, but for me, 1000 calories per day worked perfectly!

Edited August 27, 2014 by bikrchk

[violin08 13]

Bikrchk,

That is really good to hear. Thank you. I find that I am eating about 1000 calories a day and I am definitely counting my Protein. The reality is that I need to start exercising. I do take Taekwondo, but haven't gone back yet. Think I will also add some other activity as well.

Thanks again!

[Jersrose43 837]

I would love to know how you're getting 1000 calories at a month out? I can barely get to 700 and was sleeved 6/24

I've lost 45 pounds and am not really counting calories. I use my fitness pal to track and am managing all my Protein. Come up short usually on Water and calories are low.

[violin08 13]

Jersrose,

I am eating about 6 small meals a day, per doctor instructions. I never eat more than about a half a cup at a time, so it surprised me too to see my calories add up to about 1000/day on myfitnesspal. I did have trouble getting my Protein in at first, but now that I am on soft foods it seems easy. tuna salad, eggs, cheese. Those have been my "go to" foods because of the Protein content ...and I like them a lot. I also eat Protein Bars called "Power Crunch" . The PA at my docs office reccommended them. They are high in protein, but also high in calories/fat. I have about half of one of those for Breakfast and finish the other half a few hours later. I cannot eat much at one time, but every few hours, I eat something. At the end of the day,it just adds up.

[Kindle 8,667]

Bikrchk, we are almost weight loss twins! Just goes to show there's more than one way to make this work. Congratulations on your success!

[jhaymom 38]

I am also about 6 weeks out and started using MFP just to see where I was. I do get my Protein in but come up short on Water and calories. Most days I can get 600-650 and less if it's an exercise day. I'm down a total of 41lbs so I'm happy with that. I go back to work next week and hoping I can keep up ok because I have a very physical job.