400 calories a day!?!?!

I just need to vent - I had an appointment with my surgeon on Monday and left in tears. I had only lost 1.5 pounds in the past month - obviously not enough. It's frustrating, since I've been eating 2 protein shakes or puddings a day and only 1 meal for the past 6 weeks and I'm sick to DEATH of it! So I ask him about the calories and he says that my body has gotten too efficient and that I may need to stick around 400 calories a day to lose. Now, this seems to go against EVERYTHING I've read on this board. Against common sense too....400 calories?! good lord. I also told him I was getting a lot stuck, like lettuce....so I'm on liquids 2 days, pureeds 2 days and then I can start having 1 meal a day again. If I'm still getting things stuck when I try solids, I'll need an unfill - that I know. I'm sitting here now, cranky & with a grumbling tummy....I dont' feel like I even have the energy to exercise, even though I know I should. I snapped at my hubby last night when he ate dinner in front of me - so unfair, I know! I just need someone to tell me I should follow his advice and I'll see some weight drop. thanks Mary

In my newbie opinion, this whole thing just doesn't sound right. How many calories are you eating now? 400 calories a day is ridiculous and he shouldn't even have told you that. Maybe you should try more calories? If all your eating is 1 meal along with protein shakes, I would say maybe that's not enough. No way would I even try to live on 400 calories....especially if you exercise.

thanks for the reply Michele - I think it's crazy too, but I feel like I should be trusting my surgeon....very frustrated and confused.

Hi, I would stop drinking protein shakes. Liquid calories will not make you full. Try getting your protein from solid food. As far as 400 calories a day, it would not be healty. You need much more calories to function. Mira

Well see that is what makes sense to me, but that means ignoring my surgeon's instructions.....and then lying when I go into my appointments. I don't know...I'm having a hard time with all of this.

My dietitian would have a heart attack if my surgeon recommended that to someone. She thinks that 1200-1500 is too low for me even (but I see the best weight loss when I stick to 1200 calories/day). What did your surgeon say about a slight unfill? How about logging all your calories and protein: see if you are getting enough or too much. I found that one of my plateaus was broken by REDUCING my protein intake. I was getting over 140g/day and when I cut back down to 90-100g, my weight loss started back. Try figuring out what is going on in your diet, and of course don't forget to exercise. I gain weight without exercise (and really pushing myself), even with eating the right amount of calories. HTH ~Alyssa

Thanks for the reply Alyssa - I certainly trust your advice - you look amazing in your new pic, btw. The doc said to follow the 6 day after-fill plan to see if any irritation will go down and be ok when I add solids in a few days...I have another appointment on Tuesday and if I'm still having problems I'll have a little unfill. Once I can start adding solids, I'll make sure I track my calories & protein..I know right now it's about 350 cal/day & 60g protein, since I'm having 3 protein shakes a day and that's it. He did say that too much protein is bad too because after a certain amount it starts being processed as sugar or something? I wasn't following him with that, other than you CAN eat too much protein, which was news to me. I need to exercise - I know that for sure....but I hopped on the treadmill this morning and got dizzy after 10 min. I'm just very frustrated and thinking of looking for a new Dr, if someone else would take me.

I understand how you feel... and there is no way someone can even function on 400 calories a day.... talk about yo yo.. putting your body in shock form.... Are you making your protien shakes or buying them??? I was going to Smoothie king and getting a protein shake in the AM since that is when I am the most restricted...and after months of getting them, I found out that some of the ones I was getting was not high in protein in fact it was low calorie but high in sugar... so I went towards the Gladiator protein shake with Mango and peaches.... and started back to loose.... I also ate soup for lunch I would buy alot of those Soup in a Hand.... those are great if you work.... and If my family eats like hot dogs or hamburgers and it is late and I don't want anything that heavy on my stomach all night.., and I know i have to eat something I eat a baked potatoe or a Healthy choice then I am sitting and eating at the same time.. we always sit as a family since we are so busy with sports etc....(3 girls)... 400 calories will not give anyone enough energy to even get up and go walk... just change a few things and see how it goes.... there are ways.... sometimes less means you don't loose weight also.....You need your 3 meals a day... if it is one protein shake, soup, and them a healthy choice... just change it up so you will not get so bored with the same ole stuff.... If he says anything to you.. just hold your head high and go.... I went to a nutrietious (sp) and she put me on blah blah calorie diet.... he should not get mad over that..... which in my dr. office they have one so you can always speak to them to make sure you are always doing the right thing.... Good luck.... I know this time is very frustrating..... I had to have 1cc taken out almost 2 wks ago so I could take some Iron to get my iron levels up to have surgery this Friday... I didn't realize I was way to tight for the last yr.... I knew I should have had some of my last fill taken out I just got use to eating the way I had for the last yr.. I was still loosing... so I never went.... Oh I am have a TT..... Again Good luck I know this is long sorry.... Laura

Insist on getting a BMR test (basal metabolic rate test). Please remember few surgeons have any meaningful education in nutrition and metabolism. IMO you've been seriously undereating for the past 6 weeks and your body is trying to conserve its stores. Why are you eating so little? Eating 1 meal a day is a really fast road to killing your metabolism. We should be eating every 3-4 hours, as well as exercising, and water, etc. This is why many dieticians/nutritionists recommend 5-6 small meals (or 3 meals/2-3 planned snacks) in order to keep the metabolism actually FUNCTIONING. Most female bandsters should be getting 1200-1500 cal/day. Prior to getting banded, when you were able to lose some weight on a weight loss plan, did you have to starve yourself to do it? Banding doesn't change that. Lettuce is not always well-tolerated. If something gets stuck most of the time and other things go down fine most of the time, stop eating the food that's giving you trouble. I would never drop down to 400 cal/day. It's not healthy and it's not going to work in the long run. Sorry... Nancy

I have always been told by my doctors that 1200 calories was the least you should consume. It sounds like you need to eat mroe. Your body may think you are starving it so it is holding onto everything instead of releasing the weight. I wish you well. sabrina