Flying Blind

[SleevePerry 248]

Well, yesterday I hit 1200 calories. The macros themselves were great (100g Protein, 30g carbs, 10g sugar), and I burned 650 of those calories off at the gym, but I'm not at all pleased with myself. I'm a bit panicked, in fact. Most folks on here seem to be having trouble getting to 700-800 calories at 6 weeks, and I can get 1000 in, easy-peasy**. I had five small meals, each under 250 calories, which were eaten within 25 minutes from start to finish. I feel like this would be great at 6-12 months but, at 6 weeks, it feels like a total disaster.

I'm a bit scared at how calorie-obsessed I'm becoming. I really feel like I'm working so hard, but am floundering equally. I want to do the best job I can with this, and I ultimately have no idea if I'm blowing it or not.

I think I'm mostly just venting, but please feel free to offer your opinion and/or any advice you may have. I've plugged in my meals for today on MyFitnessPal, and am at 4 meals and 850 calories.

**last week, my doc asked me to increase my calories from 800 to 1000 calories/day (and I balked at such an increase), and said five meals/day were fine, as long as I wasn't grazing.

[hockeyfan7 249]

I do the same thing you are - I eat between 1000 and 1200 per day. Are you losing? If you are losing and you are comfortable it shouldn't be a big deal.

I stick to Protein, veggies and some fruits. I don't do the carbs and the only sweets I eat are sugar free Fudgesicles.

I am in week 7 and my surgeon says it's fine. As long as I'm getting 80-100 grams of Protein a day and not eating carbs and sweets he's fine with it. We're seeing the scale go down.

Are you a straight sleeve surgery or did you have a band to sleeve revision? I had a revision and he only took out about 75% instead of the normal 80-85% of the stomach to line up with the scarring in the esophagus so I wouldn't spring a leak.

I eat about 5 oz of protein a meal along with either a small salad or some grilled zucchini or green Beans.

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

@@SleevePerry ... the proof will be in the results. Why don't you wait a few weeks and see what those look like before feeling like you have to make a decision?

Your macros do sound good to me. And you're working out hard.

Remember also that if you're just starting to work out and you're doing a lot of strength training early on that your weight loss will slow down for a while as it builds those early-on, easy-to-build muscles. Again, that's not awful. But it'll just slow the scale's results temporarily.

I know someone (online) in her early 50s who ate about like you're eating early on and exercised about like you are doing. She did great and now weighs 132, last she reported. She started in the 190s.

EDIT: As I've said before, for each of us this is all just a science experiment with only one subject - you. As long as you understand the principles, the nutrition, and the basic inputs / outcomes of this process (and it sounds like you really do), you just have to figure out what works for your body and your life.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

It sounds very reasonable to me. My Protein goal is 100 grams of protein and 1200 calories is about where I land most days. Be very careful comparing yourself to others. Someone who is getting 60 grams of protein may very well be getting 600 to 700 calories a day. That doesn't mean that would work for you (or is necessarily the right thing for them). I see way too many people obsessed with the calories. My obsession happens to be protein based on what I have learned from my NUT and surgeon.

[SleevePerry 248]

@@VSGAnn2014 and @@hockeyfan7 - Thanks so much! I'm feeling a bit better.

I've been of the mindset that there is this specific window of time in which to lose a substantial amount of weight, after which time the losses will have slowed dramatically and both my hunger and sleeve capacity will increase. These early days can feel a bit dire, and I fret that I'm not making the best use of this weight loss "prime time." But I do agree that waiting a few weeks and reassessing would be the smartest move here. I have a follow up appointment with my Doc in 3.5 weeks, so I will discuss all of this with her then. In the interim, I'll try not to get so hung up on the actual calorie count. It's so easy to become obsessed, and who wants to live that way?

Thanks again!

[jeanniereenie 177]

i am about 9 weeks out and have a horrible time getting all my food in, unless i force myself i cannot eat anything , and of course i hate to feel sick, yesterday i did pretty good and hit about 600 calories, each surgeon is different i know but he says im right on target!

i am still losing, and exercising, he even approves "grazing" as long as its healthy.

congrats on your success!!