When do you start counting calories?

 I am almost 3 weeks out.  Right now, I'm not counting calories just protein and liquids amount.  That is all I am focusing on getting in.  When do you start counting calories and how much should you get in one day?  I meet with my NUT at the end of the month, so I will ask her as well.  Thanks!

I'm 17 months and I don't count calories.  I just follow the rules and get in my protein & water everyday.  If I feel I'm overeating, I go back to weighing & measuring, but not calorie counting.

My nut said to just count protein.  I'm almost three months out.

I am four years out and had the same surgeon as you...  and I have never counted calories on a consistent basis... just occasionally to see how many I was consuming (especially when the weight loss slowed drastically after one year and when I entered maintenance).  Perhaps she has changed her protocol, but we were not told to count calories....we were told to focus on protein content and portion control.

Lora

 They haven't said anything about counting calories.  I am just reading that on here.  They have told me right now to just focus on proteins and liquids, and eat 5-6 2oz meals a day.  I was just wondering if we should.  I don't want to count calories and was never successful in the past when I had to do that long-term (hence the reason for the surgery).

That is one of the several reasons she gave for not telling her patients to count calories, but to focus on protein and portion control instead.  (Hopefully the nutritionist they now have is better than the one I talked to (over the phone only, BTW, because one of them had just quit) when I was 6 months out.  Number one, 6 months post-op is too late for a nutrition consultation and, number 2, the woman I talked to was fairly clueless.) 

Lora

I've been counting, but only the last few months or so because of my new smartphone and it's apps... Now that I CAN eat more normal foods I want to keep tabs on it, partly because my loss has once again stalled!

 I agree with Laura (same surgeon too) - it'll be a long while before you can even get in the min protien and water you need.   

None the less I did start counting calories on myplate at livestrong.com about a month after my surgery and it is all on record so I can go back and see exactly what I was eating.  Now keep in mind I'm a man, and (was) bigger than you, and I had no surgery / food issues limiting what I could eat...  With that said I was eating 900-1100 calories a few months out.  

I still track my food - it helps keep me on track with meeting my protien goals and keeping carbs and calories down.  These days I can eat too much and do if I don't track it - but that's what I need to do.

You are pretty early out and just do what you can without worrying about eating too much or not enough - the first 3 months are pretty much your body recovering from major surgery and you need to have the nutrients to help your body rebuild.  

Patrick

 Thanks Patrick.  I still struggle getting my protein and liquids.  Protein drinks make me ill and I've tried over 10 different kinds.  So I am just eating mainly meat.  I have gotten myself up to almost 64 oz and it's getting better.  It's just going to take time.  I'm impatient, lol.