Calorie count

linesj · May 22, 2008

I went to see my dietician today 2 weeks post op. I've followed the food plan to the ounce and was so proud of myself. She added up a days "food" (drink) and said I was up to almost 700 calories, and really should only be at about 500 at this point. Since I only had what the plan says, I was shocked. Also shocked at her statement. I know enough about calories to know that the bare minimum is supposed to be 1000. I'm not sedentary, I've been walking and active since the day I came home, was back to work at 1 week, back on the treadmill after 3 days. It seems to me that there should not be a set amount of calories "for this stage" as some people are not as active as me. She suggested lower calorie Protein Shakes, which I went along with, but after thinking about it, I am going to listen to my own body. I feel great. I see no reason to cut my calorie intake by such a big percentage. Did anyone else have such an experience with a dietician? I'm not big on counting calories at this point myself, just following their menu and food lists and portion sizes. I'm sugar free, fat free, and never consume more then 1/4 cup total. I get in all my Protein, and have lost 3 pounds since surgery day, and I've been told not to even worry about that at this point (though she pointed it out as in "well, you DID lose a couple of pounds, but...") I have to say I was just shocked at the whole visit. How can I be critisized for following their plan? And how can 700 calories a day for someone who works 8 hours, does housework and exercises every day be too much? I'm just curious, though, if any of you have another take on this. I am open minded, I actually CAN cut calories if the consensus is that I should.

coolcrystal · May 22, 2008

I totally agree with you. That's ridiculous...

My hats go off to people who want to spend the rest of their lives counting calories.. no thanks.. if you eat a small healthy meal then you will be fine.. I could go into a long speech about why I think your dietician is a moron, but I won't. I think you have the right attitude.. and you're doing well...

And, I'm sure there will be somebody who'll say "you should do what your dietician says".. bologna! a healthy active person does not live off 500 calories. period. It urks me that there are dieticians out there telling people to do this. I'm not sure if you ever watched Biggest Loser but there was actually an episode where Kelli was only eating 500 calories and she didn't lose any weight because her body went into starvation mode and her trainer chewed her out for it.

Good luck to you.

Edited May 22, 2008 by coolcrystal

BIGDSWIFE · May 22, 2008

Our surgeon and dietian said not to worry about the calories, but the serving size and quality instead. Like a 1/4 cup of cottage cheese instead of Ice cream or mac and cheese. They are all different, but I would listen to your body.

SanDiegoPhotog · May 22, 2008

I'm not banded yet, so what do I know . . . but I thought the post-op diet in the first 6 weeks was about HEALING and not about LOSING. Counting calories to that extreme sounds like losing to me and your dietitian sounds like a loser.

Do what's best for you as long as you aren't eating solids too soon, etc. Good luck!

slimm2be · May 22, 2008

I don't know if she should be counting calories. She should only be directing you on what foods to eat while your body is healing. WE ARE NOT BYPASS patients we are BANDSTERS geesh.

Edited May 22, 2008 by slimm2be

Enchanted · May 22, 2008

I think my doc is one of the most strict out there.....

Days 1-5: Water only

Two Weeks: 115 calorie Protein shakes x 3 each day

I'm now at mushy foods and they say I should be having between 500-800 calories / day.

When I graduate to real food, the calorie count will be the same.

I have really been feeling like I'm just not getting in enough calories. I'm also three weeks post-op and this is the first week that I've felt like I've had enough energy so that I don't have to take a nap every day. My weight loss has also been stalled this week -- I lost 20 pounds in the first two weeks and now just 1 pound this week.

I'm trying like crazy to stay with my doc's recommendations and will probably continue to do so for the next couple of months. His practice is a Center of Excellence. The care is amazing. It's just this one thing that I'm taking issue with.

But...on the other hand...it makes sense that food would be the one thing I take issue with since I'm such a foodie.

andielmt · May 24, 2008

i am 6 months out and my nutrionist told me that i should be eating 1500 calories a day ( according to my metabolism test which showed that i have a fast metabolism and if i keep my calories between 1567 and 1987 calories i will lose) ive been trying to keep track of my calories but sometimes its hard to. somedays i know that i am eating good and my calories are probably in range but im still not losing. i exercise 5 days a week also. my goal starting tomorrow is to go back to the basics as much as i can. more Protein and less carbs. when i first had surgery i ate 1200 calories a day and exercised 1/2 an hour three times a week and would lose 6 pounds. now that i am exercising for 45 min 5 days a week im not budging at all. it sounds like a no brainer to go back and eating 1200 calories a day but thats hard once you get used to eating just about anything.

andrea

linesj · May 24, 2008

I found that while in the hospital the nurses were sometimes confused about what I was supposed to be drinking, or how to take pills, and so on. I know it's a newer surgery there, about 6 months, so I expected some confusion. I KNOW the dietician was confused. I seen her twice and she was completely disorganized, had to look things up over and over, and could not get dates right when she tried to write down when I could eat what. She even had problems with the calculator. So whether I'm REALLY supposed to only be at 500 calories or not is still a question in my mind. But it sounds like Christine has similar information, so possibly this IS what my Center believes. As one who has read every diet book there is, and seen other dieticians over the past 30 years, though, I have always read/heard that we are supposed to stay about 1000 calories. I realize things with the band are different then regular diets, but the rest of my body still needs energy, nourishment, and calories to keep up metabolism. I had not lost anything for 2 weeks after my surgery. Now I'm into mushies, eating a bit more and NOW I'm losing. I can see limiting amounts and types of foods at different stages, but as long as I'm following the menus and food plans I will continue to eat as much as I am. I'm not really going against "orders". I am obsessive about weighing and measuring so I think I'll just follow what I have in writing rather then what one rattle brained dietician tells me. (she was a sub anyway, not the regular dietician from the Bariatric Center)