Lost 110 pounds but now at 1500 calories a day

[learn2cook 576]

I feel your pain. I’m maintaining between 214-220 lbs at 1000-1200 calories. There really isn’t anything to cut out and still be healthy. I’m fighting to stay at this by logging meals, measuring but not being totally obsessed. The goal all along has to be as healthy as I can be, not wearing a bikini or posting on popular social media.

I hope your health choices are what you can live with long term. That’s what I ask myself too, every day. Are you mobile, in reasonable health, can you continue to do the active things you love with people who love you? Is your health limiting your job choices? I feel that this is something that we don’t talk about enough on here. What happens when you stop loosing weight and you are not at goal, and the calories are as low as you can reasonably eat? I think this happens more often than gets posted.

[RickM 1,747]

Adding to the good points that have been made here, metabolic rates are somewhat individual, beyond genetics but personal history and even your gut flora that helps digestion and absorption. The BMR tests are interesting as a reference, but they mostly tell you what the algorithm thinks your metabolism should be, but not what it actually is. Also, this is a somewhat tough time for a bypass post op, as the caloric malabsorption of the bypass dissipates after a year or two - you tend to lose that extra help in losing weight and become a more "normal" person in that regard. Some may never notice the effect if they lost quickly and early, but it can also bite you in maintenance if one gets used to being stable at say, 1700 calories, but then that stability point drops to maybe 1600 or 1500. So, stay flexible and try to keep the calories down as much as you can until you get to the weight you desire (or to where it just won't go down anymore) and adjust to maintenance

Good luck....

[SpartanMaker 767]

1 hour ago, RickM said:

The BMR tests are interesting as a reference, but they mostly tell you what the algorithm thinks your metabolism should be, but not what it actually is.

Can you please provide references for this? Everything I've seen or read in the scientific literature suggests that RMR testing by direct calorimetry is considered the gold standard for determining calories burned. Indirect calorimetry may be slightly less accurate, but is still far and away better than anything else available to us.

Where things get "fuzzy", is that we are not always at rest, so just knowing your RMR is not enough. This is where activity level estimates or heart-rate based calorie estimators like fitbits try to make up the difference. These will obviously be less accurate, but are certainly better than a wild guess or deciding based on something much less accurate like height and weight charts.

Edited October 20, 2022 by SpartanMaker

[Arabesque 7,244]

The truth of the matter is not everyone reaches the goal weight they have chosen. And not everyone maintains that weight if they do attain it. Remember the average weight loss at three years post surgery (bypass or sleeve) is about 65% of the weight you had to lose to put you in a healthy weight range. Genetics, your body’s set point, lifestyle choices & preferences, age, gender, health & medications, etc. & yes a little complacency. But there’s nothing wrong with any of this. Any weight loss is a win.

You may find a conversation with your surgeon, doctor & dietician helpful.

[RickM 1,747]

22 hours ago, SpartanMaker said:

Can you please provide references for this? Everything I've seen or read in the scientific literature suggests that RMR testing by direct calorimetry is considered the gold standard for determining calories burned. Indirect calorimetry may be slightly less accurate, but is still far and away better than anything else available to us.

Where things get "fuzzy", is that we are not always at rest, so just knowing your RMR is not enough. This is where activity level estimates or heart-rate based calorie estimators like fitbits try to make up the difference. These will obviously be less accurate, but are certainly better than a wild guess or deciding based on something much less accurate like height and weight charts.

As you note, the scales and calculators are mostly a "best guess", as they are highly algorithmic. The more direct measures like the vox tests and the like are better, but still have some population algorithms in there that can go astray of one is far outside normal population standards, as WLS patients often are. Similar for body composition checks - the scales are OK if you know how to correct them, but the more direct measures such as bodpod, Water displacement and even dexascan are trying to solve for more variables than they can measure, so they are comparing to norms.

Getting into BMRs and the like, of course there is the judgement as to burn rates and exertion levels above resting, but then with our WLS of different flavors, that impacts the intake caloric level that we consuming and absorbing, and how the body adjusts to the insult of surgery over time, what the surgery that you had does to the absorption of different foods (fats absorbed differently from carbohydrates which are different from Proteins, simple carbs different from complex carbs.)

In short, you may get a number from some lab testing as to what calories are appropriate for you, but the ultimate test is whether your weight is stable at that point, or gaining or losing so that you need to make adjustments.

[bluebellblue 16]

Giving an update. Been hovering around 1500-1600 calories for a few months and losing still but very very slowly. I think I will end up on about 1800 a day at 2 years out

[ErinBrooke1982 1]

I'm so glad I found this thread! I am 11-months post-gastric bypass, have lost 135 lbs., and have reached my goal weight. Now, I'm terrified of gaining the weight back! My surgeon and weight management team have constantly pushed 3-meals of 3-6 oz. and 1000-1200 calories per day. Period. I've noticed that my body feels better if I eat small meals throughout the day and 1300-1500 calories. I'm still making healthy food choices, meeting my Protein and Water goals, and happily working out for 1-hour per day. I initially reached out to my healthcare team because I was concerned about eating too much and stretching my pouch, but I keep getting the same (frustrating) response from them (3-meals of 3-6 oz. and 1000-1200 calories per day). I honestly felt like, "am I the only one struggling with this?!?" Which is why I'm so happy I stumbled upon this thread! Did any of you also get the push-back from your medical team regarding calories, etc.?

[heatherdbby 70]

1 hour ago, ErinBrooke1982 said:

I'm so glad I found this thread! I am 11-months post-gastric bypass, have lost 135 lbs., and have reached my goal weight. Now, I'm terrified of gaining the weight back! My surgeon and weight management team have constantly pushed 3-meals of 3-6 oz. and 1000-1200 calories per day. Period. I've noticed that my body feels better if I eat small meals throughout the day and 1300-1500 calories. I'm still making healthy food choices, meeting my Protein and Water goals, and happily working out for 1-hour per day. I initially reached out to my healthcare team because I was concerned about eating too much and stretching my pouch, but I keep getting the same (frustrating) response from them (3-meals of 3-6 oz. and 1000-1200 calories per day). I honestly felt like, "am I the only one struggling with this?!?" Which is why I'm so happy I stumbled upon this thread! Did any of you also get the push-back from your medical team regarding calories, etc.?

I get pushback on my medical team for almost everything.

And your team seems to be in the odd group here.. most teams push for 4-6 small meals a day...? Its really hard to only eat 3-6 ounces, only 3 times, and be at 1200 calories?

I eat 5ish times a day, each meal being 150-300 calories, and a half cup per meal.

[bluebellblue 16]

My medical team said I’d gain if I ate over 1200 calories a day. Absolute nonsense and far too few calories for my height. Well done on reaching your goal.

[learn2cook 576]

Congratulations on making goal! I did still loose and loose when the weather and my activities change. Fixing the low Iron problem got me to onederland. Staying in a healthy iron range is proving to be the harder effort. Oh, and my calories can go to 1200-1500 if I’m including a hamburger or meatballs. For me it seems to be what I eat that makes a difference, not the calories so much. I’m 5’4” and moderately active. I lost weight bumping up calories with nutritious choices. I logged food and weighed myself to figure it out, mostly it is religiously getting the iron.

[Arabesque 7,244]

1200 calories a day for someone your height & activity level seems very low when you’re maintaining @ErinBrooke1982. Check out a BMR calculator for an idea of the calories you need. You’ll soon work out if that’s too few or too many calories to support your maintenance.

Actually calories weren’t a consideration with my surgeon or dietician. They were more focussed on portion size & even that was more of a guideline & not rules. They did encourage me to eat more when I first stabilised but then took into consideration I’m more finely built so decided my weight was quite okay.

I’m a three meals a day plus Snacks person. It’s the only way I get all my calories in. My snacks are all pretty nutrient dense & offer Protein & other nutrients I need. If just three meals a day is difficult for you (you can only eat what you can eat at a meal time) try reducing the meal sizes & add snacks. The snacks can be portions of your meals (leftovers) to begin or you could try 4 meals a day. You just have to find what best works for you & it may not be what your team suggests.

PS - I checked a BMR calculator out of interest earlier this year & it advised I needed to consume about 1500 calories to maintain my weight, at my age, height & activity level which was about what I was consuming. I’ve been pretty stable with my weight.

[SKH13 0]

On 10/18/2022 at 11:47 PM, Arabesque said:

Thanks for the insights Arabesque!

I'm short too and have a crazy low metabolism -- I'm still losing but am anxious about eating more than 1200 per day (only 5 months out) but have been told this is too low. Obviously I want this new lifestyle to be sustainable and to maintain the lower weight -- wherever I land.

++++

On 10/18/2022 at 11:47 PM, Arabesque said:

To add to everyone’s great advice above, don’t forget, your rate of loss slow as you get nearer to your body’s set weight. This is the weight your body is happiest at & will settle at. The surgery resets this from where it was but it may not be the weight you want to be. To get below this weight you will have to consume less & do more. It will be more of a struggle & difficult to maintain that lower weight because you’re fighting your body.

Personally I’d put on weight at 1500 but I’m short at 5’3”, not very active, more finely built & 57. But before surgery I couldn’t lose eating 900 calories.

But don’t think your weight loss is over yet. You’ll get where you’re supposed to be in your time & there’s nothing wrong with that.

[Not sure 48]

There are tools for you to use, they are not perfect but they’re are close. As you can see by my resting and active energy consumption is around 3,000calories a day. I’m nowhere near that at 9 months out , so I’ve been advised to cut back on my exercise. Lost total 150lbs from Oct 22 to April and now plateaued, medical team believes my body went into starvation mode and advised me to increase calorie density. Never thought I’d hear someone tell me to eat more….lol