Calories per day?

[ttdish 315]

I'm just curious how many calories on average most consume in the first few weeks pre-op.

I know Protein is more important at this point, but I'm logging all of my food, and as a life long dieter, I can't help but notice the number of calories.

I'm 8 days post op, and have been averaging about 400 cals/per day since about day 4. I expect that number will go up as I add more food/volume.

Soooo... What were your averages in the first few weeks and months after surgery?

Note: I don't have a NUT. I'm self pay, so I didn't have the required dietician/nutritionist appointments leading up to surgery. I did a ton of research, and got a basic meal plan from my surgeon, but I don't have a nutritionist to talk to about this kind of stuff. I'm equally concerned about eating too few calories as I am about eating too many. I don't want to starve myself into losing weight... I want to do it right!

[skirby22 1]

I had surgery 9/3 and I'm averaging about 200-300 cals per day with about 45-60grams of Protein . Can't seem to fit anymore in.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

What is your Protein target? The amount of Protein you are required to get in will have the biggest influence on whether or not your calories are reasonable.

In the first few weeks, since you are so limited in how much volume you can consume, it really is more important to focus on getting in all your protein. The number of calories is less important than the quality of your calories.

My target is 100 grams of protein a day and I track it in MyFitnessPal. I have been able to reach that target every day since my second day home from the hospital.

Once I was able to start eating regular foods my calories naturally increased. Now, at over four months out I am usually between 1000-1300 calories/day but mostly right around 1200.

It is unfortunate that even as a self-payer you haven't had the support of a NUT. I am fortunate that even as a self-payer, my program fee includes nutrition education and access to my NUT for as long as I need her.

[BarrySue 602]

Two months out, I don't break 400-500 calories. Not because I'm trying to over-diet, but because so many foods don't sit well with me. I do, however, get creative to make sure I get as much Protein as possible in.

I've finally started exercising, but I'm keeping it light (15 minutes of cardio, that's it), because I don't have the caloric/nutritional support to sustain a more intense workout yet.

[ttdish 315]

What is your Protein target? The amount of Protein you are required to get in will have the biggest influence on whether or not your calories are reasonable.

In the first few weeks, since you are so limited in how much volume you can consume, it really is more important to focus on getting in all your protein. The number of calories is less important than the quality of your calories.

My target is 100 grams of protein a day and I track it in MyFitnessPal. I have been able to reach that target every day since my second day home from the hospital.

Once I was able to start eating regular foods my calories naturally increased. Now, at over four months out I am usually between 1000-1300 calories/day but mostly right around 1200.

It is unfortunate that even as a self-payer you haven't had the support of a NUT. I am fortunate that even as a self-payer, my program fee includes nutrition education and access to my NUT for as long as I need her.

My protein target is 60-80 grams. I get close most days, but haven't quite hit 60 yet.

Are you consuming a lot of Protein shakes and powder to get to 100? That seems like so much! My surgeon has me eating three mini meals with soft protein (cottage cheese, eggs, etc) and having Protein Shakes between meals. I can't usually finish both shakes, and with my mini meals being 1-2 oz, my protein target seems barely attainable. In fact, the only day in which I have met my goal is when I skipped a mini meal in favor of finishing a full shake. I'd definitely be open to hearing some tips on how you get so much protein in every day. 100 g is impressive!

Do you mind if I ask, how well are you losing at 4 months out eating 1000-1300 calories? I see so many posts about people eating 600 for months and months, and that doesn't seem healthy or realistic to me, but I don't know if that's the norm or not.

I agree that it's unfortunate that I don't have nutritional support, but I'm dealing with the cards I've been dealt, and I know I can be successful! I am a smart person, and not afraid to ask questions from people who are already on this journey

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

When I was on liquid and soft food I mostly ate:

Protein shakes, Protein pudding, liquid beverage concentrate with protein, protein Soup, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, refried Beans, tuna, soft fish (like salmon and tilapia), melted cheese on everything!, etc.

I tried to make sure almost everything had protein but also had no sugar added diced peaches, pears, and applesauce, as well as V8, and soft vegetables like green Beans and squash.

For Protein Shakes I like: Premier Protein, GNC Lean 25, ProtiDiet liquid beverage concentrates, and Syntrax nectar.

My surgeon said that there is no physical reason someone couldn't drink 3 Premier Protein shakes (90 grams protein) the day after surgery, so I just committed to getting it all in even if that meant not going to sleep until I had reached my goal.

If your protein goal is 60-80 grams, I would recommend working very hard to get in at least 80 grams every day. I think you will feel better and it will help with healing and weight loss.

Plan out meals and Snacks of no more than 20-25 grams of protein each time for the day. Keep in mind that early out those meals and Snacks may sort of run together because you are going to be sipping and eating something all day.

Plus, the more you can include protein in your fluids, the easier it will be to reach both your protein and 64 oz Fluid goals.

Good luck and just keep working at it. And make sure you record everything because if you are like me, I can't remember what I ate or drank 10 minutes ago!

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

I forgot to add: I am down over 130 pounds from the week before surgery.

[KarenLoh 128]

I'm getting 80-100 grams of Protein a day and my calories are usually around 900 per day. I was doing 700 for the first month and had a few days at 1,000 but most days are around 900. I'm on month two right now.

Hope that helps.

[ttdish 315]

When I was on liquid and soft food I mostly ate:

Protein shakes, Protein pudding, liquid beverage concentrate with protein, protein Soup, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, refried Beans, tuna, soft fish (like salmon and tilapia), melted cheese on everything!, etc.

I tried to make sure almost everything had protein but also had no sugar added diced peaches, pears, and applesauce, as well as V8, and soft vegetables like green Beans and squash.

For Protein Shakes I like: Premier Protein, GNC Lean 25, ProtiDiet liquid beverage concentrates, and Syntrax nectar.

My surgeon said that there is no physical reason someone couldn't drink 3 Premier Protein shakes (90 grams protein) the day after surgery, so I just committed to getting it all in even if that meant not going to sleep until I had reached my goal.

If your protein goal is 60-80 grams, I would recommend working very hard to get in at least 80 grams every day. I think you will feel better and it will help with healing and weight loss.

Plan out meals and Snacks of no more than 20-25 grams of protein each time for the day. Keep in mind that early out those meals and Snacks may sort of run together because you are going to be sipping and eating something all day.

Plus, the more you can include protein in your fluids, the easier it will be to reach both your protein and 64 oz Fluid goals.

Good luck and just keep working at it. And make sure you record everything because if you are like me, I can't remember what I ate or drank 10 minutes ago!

THANK YOU!

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Don't forget to plan out when to take your Vitamins, too.

[ttdish 315]

Don't forget to plan out when to take your Vitamins, too.

I'm not supposed to take them until 4 weeks out. I've got a whole schedule worked out so Calcium and Iron don't conflict and I'm never taking too many at once.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

I currently eat between 850 - 1025 calories a day and get in 100gms of Protein.

At 0 - 3 months I was eating between 200 - 400.

6 - 9 mths I was eating between 750 - 850

I would google bariatric diets. There are sites where you can down load a bariatric manual that will have guidelines to follow. Your intake will vary depending on age and activity level. Working within a range works for me. I workout 5 -6 days a week. If I am feeling truly hungry, not head hunger or cravings, then I eat a bit more. My biggest concerns are hitting my Protein goals and getting in my Water.

[Spiceyfrog 269]

My Protein goal is 50, I just started meeting it. I am 3 months post op and average 300-400 calories per day.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

My Protein goal is 50, I just started meeting it. I am 3 months post op and average 300-400 calories per day.

That seems really low. I don't think I have heard of a protein goal under 60 grams. May I ask what your starting BMI was?