Getting enough Calories?

[cmcallister2 0]

Alright, I'm a little concerned. The sample menu's my Dr gave me has total daily calories of about 500-700 calories. I was always told that eating this little stops the metabolism. I've been eating like this (Im on regular food now) and Im starving!!!! I lost nine pounds week one and nothing since (It's only week two and a half). Im just afraid that I'm hurting myself by not eating enough. Thoughts anyone? Thanks:confused:

[HarleyGirl 1]

My doctor's recommendations are in the same range.....I can't imagine they would tell us to do something that would be harmful.......and it's not forever, just for the first little while.

I think eventually we'll settle in to 1,000 or so a day....

[newhope4me 0]

I was concerned about this type of thing too. My doc recommended about 1200 calories a day, but i could only manage between 500-700. when i realized that, i became concerned, my husband wondered how i was even sustaining. i have to stay on schedule with my meals though, or i get dizzy/lightheaded. what i am eating is high in Protein, which i guess helps. i was worried that my body was going to start to store all i was giving it, go in starvation mode. but i seem to be ok. from what i understand, we will be able to eat more calories eventually

[Jachut 487]

Personally I think its ridiculous!

It wont hurt you for a little while and its all most people would probably manage in the first weeks after surgery. But long term, there is no way its necessary to eat that little and there's no way you'll remain healthy on that little. You WILL become deficient in things over time. My sureon's words to me though for the first weeks was "do try to get in 1200 calories a day, although it will be difficult, because the weight loss you get from starving isnt healthy, you'll just lose lots of water".

I can burn off more than that in one exercise session!

I lost perfectly well on 1500 to 1800 calories a day. I realise that's more than average so perhaps I was lucky. But 1200 ought to be about right for most women of average activity levels to lose well. Some have to eat less, some dont.

As to whether our surgeons would tell us to do anything harmful or not, well, they're surgeons, not nutritionists. The whole Protein thing for example, its not an issue in Australia at all, that's not the line of thought. And Australians lose statistically average amounts as well. So its not black and white RIGHT is it? Its just one way of looking at it that can work. And nor is eating a carb based diet wrong, and by no means do people that dont eat a lot of protein fail to lose or lose their hair.< /p>

You have to take the nutritional advice on board but find what suits you and your lifestyle. But why you'd eat 500 calories a day when you can lose on more is kind of beyond me. You'll find you'll suffer more but wont necessarily lose more or faster and you could be damaging your health in the process.

Always remember, you have to do what your body needs to lose weight but when you're tempted to go too low or too tight, its important to realise that the more you can eat and still lose weight, the healthier and better nourished you will be. There's no prizes for being ultra tight and eating hardly anythign when you dont need to. I think some of us do get a little guilty pleasure over the self denial like we're punishing ourselves, and its really not the way to think of it.

[donnabarney 0]

I'm in the same boat as you. I have trouble eating the 1200 calories,

for Breakfast I have a yorgort(spelled wrong) 90 cal

for lunch (today sushi) about 900 cal. but normally Soup with about 120 cal.

for dinner (kids were really bad (12 and 11) girls.

need I say more. Dinner ended about 50 cal in.

I'm finding that even without a fill, stress does cause my band to tighten or something.

I'm still finding that I'm not starving, (work out daily with a 4 km walk and the gym), and am putting off a fill, until I eat more. I'm finding that late at night I am hungry, and usually have a diet pudding to eat.

I'm still working on eating more.

[Jachut 487]

Dont panic though - generally within a few months your appetite returns and you will be able to eat more. Maybe too much, lol.

[shortgal 5]

Alright, I'm a little concerned. The sample menu's my Dr gave me has total daily calories of about 500-700 calories. I was always told that eating this little stops the metabolism. I've been eating like this (Im on regular food now) and Im starving!!!! I lost nine pounds week one and nothing since (It's only week two and a half). Im just afraid that I'm hurting myself by not eating enough. Thoughts anyone? Thanks:confused:

Your Dr. gave you a handout that was for all his/her patients, it was not customized for you. Some patients have more post op swelling than others and can barely get the required liquids down. Also your Dr might want reduced calories the first few weeks to limit how much your stomach "works" to digest the food for healing purposes.

The fact that you lost a lot in one week and nothing the second week is normal. Some people drop steadily, some drop a lot then hit a plateau and then drop again. Sometimes it goes back and forth between the two.

If after a month, your Dr does not increase the calories, then I would be concerned. We are all so accustomed to eating so much that we tend to believe we can't survive on 700 calories.

there are many threads/polls on the forum about how many calories people are eating a day and it varies between 800 and 1400 on average, if I remember the previous poll results correctly. That will vary with your level of daily activity and exercise.

I am over four months out and I eat approx 1000 to 1200 a day. Trust me, I am surviving. I choose healthy foods and I agree that carbs can be good for you, but choosing healthy carbs is the key. Green veggies, whole grain breads, oatmeal, fruit etc. Not so many potatoes, chips, pretzels, white rice, Pasta. In the early weeks right after banding, I did keep my Protein levels high and limited carbs. The protein does keep me satisfied longer and the hunger at bay.