How many calories do you aim for?

[froggie456834 0]

Hi everyone,

I had my surgery two days ago and have been tracking my calories via the Realize site. How many calories should I go for? Today I got something like 763, with 90 grams of Protein. Seems like a really low # but I'm getting my protein in, for sure. Any advice?

[lisadental 0]

Zillyanne, how do you get that much Protein with so little calories? Thanks

[jf7585 0]

I was banded on July 15 and so far have lost 11 pounds to date. Right after I was banded it was hard for me to get enough calories (only around 300-500/day). I did get my Protein in first and enough Water which really helped. I'm diabetic so if I don't consume enough calories throughout the day,my blood sugar goes low, even when I adjust and decrease my meds. Since then I've added solid foods and can usually eat only 800-1100 calories/day. I use a nutritional program to track the calories, nutritional makeup of the foods I eat,and my exercise. I try to eat less than 1200 which is the recommendation from my nutritionist, however I find it hard to consume that much. Right now 1000 calories seems to be a good compromise. I don't feel so tired, seem to get enough nutrition in, and yet am losing around 1/4-1/2 pounds per day. My docotor didn't seem to be concerned with how many calories I'm taking in and more concerned with how I was handling food/fluid intake. Check with your doctor or nutritionist to see what they prefer. It sounds like you are doing the right things so far. Good luck with your lap band journey.

[Jachut 487]

1500 a day was always good for me, a good balance between losing weight and still getting in a good variety of nutrients every day.

I still eat about that now I'm maintaining. I never went "off" my diet, its more so that my weight loss just eventually slowed then stopped. Thankfully that happened at a healthy weight, lol!

I dont function well on less, my energy levels dip and I cant run as well.

[froggie456834 0]

Lisa - I use Protein powders to get in my protein. For Breakfast, I had Isopure Protein Powder (50 g protein) mixed w/milk. For lunch, I had chicken broth along with Unjury chocolate (20 g) mixed w/milk. dinner was juice and ice mixed with unflavored Unjury (20 g). The protein powder alone was worth 90 g - I didn't even count the milk, broth, or Jello I had for a snack. I wish I had known it was so easy to get protein in when I was pregnant. I was told to get 100 g a day which I thought was impossible.

[Melody2006 1]

This is what my surgeon said:

800-1200 cals a day

60 gr. Protein day minimum

64 oz Water daily

[blackcherry2002 5]

holy crap...I just havent been hungry...I'm 5 days post-op and I'm consuming around 100-300 calories a day. :S

[To be free 1]

When I went for my first fill last Tuesday the nurse who did the fill told me that I shouldn't go under 1000 calories..I had been getting around 800-900 So I would think the ideal would be 1000-1200 when eating solids....

[Lanakila 1]

Lisa - I use Protein powders to get in my Protein. For Breakfast, I had Isopure Protein Powder (50 g protein) mixed w/milk. For lunch, I had chicken broth along with unjury chocolate (20 g) mixed w/milk. dinner was juice and ice mixed with unflavored Unjury (20 g). The protein powder alone was worth 90 g - I didn't even count the milk, broth, or Jello I had for a snack. I wish I had known it was so easy to get protein in when I was pregnant. I was told to get 100 g a day which I thought was impossible.

Zillyanne, just FYI...your body does not use more than 20-25 g of protein at a time...so taking in that 50g for breakfast really did no more than your lunch or your dinner. Protein powders are expensive, so no need using more if your body won't absorb it.