It was just something he said in passing....

You don't really need carbs for energy,  they are AN energy source,  not the only energy source.   In the absence of carbs (or low carbohydrate intake) your body moves into ketosis, and you then use fat for energy.     I have gone very long periods eating less than 20 grams a day of carbohydrate (some days zero) with no impact to my energy :)     I agree that eating healthy foods is important,  but out of the 3 food groups,  carbohydrates are the only one that are not essential to health. 

That is a very good "Maintenance" point of view......(one that I agree and share)

Caloric deficit is how you loose weight, protein and supplements backed up by good labs is key for healthy WL.

frisco

I have to add my 2 cents here.  I'm getting on to 6 months out and I can't imagine eating more than 650 calories a day.  Most of the time I'm under 600 and on rare occasions, I'll go to almost 650 calories.  My surgeon and nutritionist both told me that if I didn't feel like eating, I could even skip a meal........as long as I got my 60-80 grams of protein in for the day.  Early out, 300 calories a day was a chore.  500 calories at 3 months was barely doable, but why pu****  If we are getting what we NEED, why eat more than that?  Eating for pleasure got me sick and overweight.  Food is fuel.  Nothing wrong with enjoying what we eat, but to "use up" allowable calories seems counter-productive to me.  Yes, I'm very "hard core" and I have to be because if I'm not, my comorbs are going to raise their ugly heads and kill me. 

Given all that personal point of view, I applaud those who can add carbs and not deal with the carb monsters.  I fear the slippery slopes, so I avoid carbs like the plague most of the time.  Plus there are many "healthy" carbs that are not good for kidney disease patients, so that's another fear I have.  If someone can eat 1000 calories a day with enough protein and carbs to make them content with their food and their weight loss, more power to them.  I can't do that. 

As with almost everything in life, there are very few "one size fits all" -- we each have to find the "size" that fits us and go from there.  And please keep in mind that whatever "size" worked for you at one age may not work for you at another age.  I can't eat like I did when I was in college and lived on the fifth floor with no elevators.  I burned gobs of calories just going to my room several times a day.  Forget the "freshman fifteen" -- I actually lost weight in that dorm -- and the food was GOOD! LOL 

We are all in this together -- we have different plans, we have different points of view, and we eventually learn what works best for ourselves.  What we have to remember is that we will cheer your success no matter how you get it.  This isn't a competition, it's a cooperative effort.........I'm rooting for all of you to succeed...........and I hope you'll do the same for me -- even if we differ in our opinions of what's the "best" way to do it!

Ree

This is interesting to me... because I'm currently on a six-month pre-op plan and my doctor told me to be on a 1800 calorie per day diet with less than 30% of that coming from fat and to limit carbs (those were the only guidelines).  It was tough at first (because clearly I eat  A LOT in order to be my size), but I have found myself coming anywhere between 200-400 calories under that in the past couple of days.. just because I wasn't interested in eating.

I started to think to myself... am I not supposed to eat under that amount? If she says "1800 calorie diet" does that mean I'm doing something BAD by eating less? LOL I mean, it sounds silly in my head.. but I'm thinking, shoot maybe I'm supposed to hit that mark.... but maybe that's a MAXIMUM? I have my monthly meeting w/ her on Monday, so I was going to ask.  It makes me feel stupid saying it... but really, what do I know about nutrition! This is the first time I've really been educated by a professional.

Thanks!

And, as Robert Louis Stevenson said in passing -----

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig my grave and let me lie,
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I lay me down with a will.

This be the verse that you grave for me,
Here he lies where he longed to be,
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.

Elina, I am curious what maintenance is like for someone of your small frame and size. How many calories do you typically eat on a daily basis and do you still eat primarily low carb to stay in the same weight range?

 I can't answer for Elina, but wanted to post that I followed this exact plan, as carbs are the only NON-essential macro you have.. fats and protein are essential.. and imo, low carb must equal at least moderate fat within cal ranges during losing to keep hormone levels and health/energy ok. To this day, I eat what most would consider low carb. My macro ratios are 25% carb (about 35-40% of this comes from fiber, min 25g a day) 35% protein and 40% fat. My energy, body comp and labs are stellar at this range.  I am averaging in this last month about 1600-1700/day and losing still. I lift very heavy weights 20mins/1x a week (every other this month) but am very "active" aka I don't sit much.

My normal BMI was about 155-157ish (5'6.5), I am now at 135ish, sometimes lower, sometimes a bit higher.. but BMI around 21 & change. I am still slowly losing despite having several 2000+ cal days interspersed with low-hunger days of 1300 ish. I keep my protein at a min of 105-115g a day. I love eating this way as it's very satisfying and my chol/lipids have not been better (as well as my DH's who is following almost the same eating when home..)

Hi INgirl I want to say thank you for your feedback! I am new to maintenance and been trying to come up with a permanent plan. I'm still eating low carb because I was diabetic type 2 before surgery and I'm afraid raising my carbs would end up in weight gain and/or blood sugars going up. I'm going to be low carb for life because I know diabetes can come back . I am having a hard time figuring out how many calories is my "maintenance" range. At this point I'm bouncing between 125-129 depending on TOM or something. I am afraid to up my calories at this point but I know I'm going to have to figure it out.  Sometimes I am very active for a week and then not so much the following week during college courses and dealing with my kids/husband. I know when I'm not as active I keep my calories lower. I am still trying to figure it all out. I know that I have decided to have a "lifetime maintenance range" of 125-130 or 135 and if it goes over that then I'm back doing my own version of a 5 day pouch test to keep it in check. I appreciate your taking the time to reply

My maintenance is anywhere between 1200-1800 calories a day, depending on exercise and the scale.  This is pretty much a normal caloric amount for someone my size and weight and exercise level.  To be perfectly honest, I don't track much anymore, but I go back to journaling first thing if there is any regain at all.  Journaling is my best weapon once regain happens.

Thank you for the advice Elina! I'm still tracking on MFP daily. I'm almost 5'5" so I think 125-129 is small enough for me personally but it looks like I might keep losing since I've dropped another few pounds this month. I am keeping an eye on the scale like a hawk. It's going to take some trial and error. You are very appreciated!