1200

My doctor's plan calls for 600-800 calories and less than 40 grams of carbs when losing weight. When my calories or carbs increased my weight loss slowed or stopped. 

I track what I eat, even now 2 1/2 years post-op, so I have a clear indicator that when my calories went up my weight loss stopped.

600-800 calories is a lot when you have restriction and no hunger. There were and are many days when I have to be reminded to eat.

Now, 2 1/2 years post-op my calories average 800-1,000 per day. Some days are lower than 800 and holidays and vacations can raise the number to 1,200 but the normal range is 800-1,000 and I'm never hungry and have maintained my weight loss with little effort.

You'll find that if you're eating 600-800 calories of dense protein you're going to be stuffed. 
If you eat 1,200 calories I assure you the carbs will be greater than 40 grams and you'll likely be hungry. Carbs do not fill you up for long and cause you to crave more carbs.

If you're not losing, please list what you are eating.

My weight loss slowed down at 6 months post-op. I reviewed what I was eating and realized the bulk of my protein was coming from soft sources like protein shakes, cheese, Greek yogurt, beans.

I changed to dense protein, mainly tender beef and seafood, and saw my weight loss resume and felt a lot of restriction. Dense protein fills you up with a small amount and keeps you full longer. For example,  I can eat 8 oz. of Lentil soup with no problem but 4 oz. of steak fills me right up.

Limiting my carbs to less than 40 grams per day was also instrumental for my continued weight loss. When my carbs got too high my weight loss slowed.

I followed the plan my doctor gave me and lost 100% of my excess weight and have kept it off without a lot of effort.

1. Eat 600-800 calories per day when losing weight  and 1,200 calories to maintain
2. Limit carbs to less than 40 grams per day
3. Eat 70-100 gram of protein daily
4. Minimum 64 oz. liquids daily
5. Regular exercise/physical activity
6. Track what you eat ( I use myfitnesspal.com to track calories, carbs, protein, etc.)

Review what you are eating and make appropriate adjustments. Cut out slider foods like bread, rice, potato, chips, carbs in general. You can eat slider foods all day long and feel no restriction.

Dense protein, limiting carbs and regular physical activity were responsible for me reaching my weight loss goal and maintaining.

Good luck,
George

Hey George,

I'm thinking your response is to me.  I do the 600-800-cals 30-40 carb deal. 70-80g grams protein  I don't do soft protein mainly because i prefer meat, I work out etc.  I just don't lose.  I don't eat processed food at all with the exception of the odd quest bar which contains 4 grams carbs and 1/2 one is breakfast on the days i have that. 100-120 oz water. And it doesn't work i am not losing from the beginning. So at 6 months out and having lost almost 40lbs I'm looking for a new way forward. Meanwhile i was a revision surgery and i lost all my weight on the band not doing low carb, before it failed. Color me stuck in the mire.

Thanks for your post.

 My post was to you but somehow it got placed way down.

How much more weight do you have to lose? I recall that when I was close to goal the weight loss slowed. 

Can you post what you eat? This is often helpful as someone may see something we miss. 

I have about 40lbs left to lose. here's a typical day

B 2oz baked lamb with tablespoon cauliflower
L  2 1/2oz of buffalo chicken salad made with Greek yogurt hot sauce celery
LL Noodleless eggplant, 2oz ground turkey, 1/2 oz Italian cheese, eggplant, onions, red pepper, tablespoon marinara
D 1 baked skinless chicken thigh

about 120 water

Wow, all I can say about what you're eating is that I love your food choices!

Your water intake reminds me I need to hydrate more. 

Yeah George, hence my frustration. 

The eating part of this journey has been the easiest for me. My problem was volume, I never ate fast food or much processed food before. Never was a fan of pasta or rice or potatoes.  I did love some crusty french bread though but i look at bread now and it just seems like an impossibility to put that in my mouth and still get my protein. So yeah I'm the poster child for the vsg...without the weight loss.

Wow! I'm almost 10 weeks out and can't fathom eating that much food. Physically that much food would be an impossibility for me. My lunch was 2 oz of meat and 2 TBS green beans. I won't eat now probably until 3:30 or 4:00.

I still average about  650 calories a day. My nut is good with that until I hit goal as long as I get adequate protein.

 I'm on a similar plan to GeorgeB's.  My upper target for calories is 600.  Here is my meal plan for today:

Breakfast:
2 Omega-III Enhanced Boiled Eggs and a light Mozz. Cheese Stick (190 Cal, 18 g of protein, 3 g Carb)

Lunch
3 homemade Chicken/Turkey Meatballs pomodoro (4 oz) (212 Cal, 20g of Protein, 8 g Carb)

Dinner

226 g No Fat Cottage Cheese (180 Calories,  30 g of protein, 10 g of Carbs)

Totals:  562 Calories, 68 g Protein, 21 g Carb)

For recipes I make at home, I use a website to analyze the recipe and give me a nutrition label like I would find in the store.  ITheree are several out there.

My surgery plan didn't give a calorie or carb range.  Eat 3x a day, protein first, then veggies or fruit.

I have tracked on Myfitnesspal since January 2010 so I know what works for me.

At two years post op I still aim for 1000 calorie.  Eating more I gain weight.  My maintenance also requires daily exercise.  It's really sad, but just how my body processes food.  One of the surgeons in the practice told me to get over it, make peace with it and learn to live with it.

While I'd like to eat more, I wouldn't trade my new body and the potential for regain, so I will keep tracking.

Find what works for you!  This tool we are given is just that, a tool to help us.  The rest is up to us!

 Ditto what George said with minor alterations.

Nut number one didn't like giving calories goals- just a protein and liquid goal.  When pressed, she said 600-800 calories.  I choose to do low or at least lower carbs, almost always under 40 and that does not take into account net carbs.

Nut number 2 gave me an upper limit of 600 and 90 grams of protein (a boost of 10).  I am struggling with this, but trying to improve.  Today it went very well :)

B:  HMR 70 shake with 1 scoop Jarrow natural whey and 1 tablspoon pb2
L: 1 cup lentil soup (middle eastern style)
S: 1 Sargento cheese stick, low fat string cheese
D 3 ounces chicken boneless thigh

593 calories, 90 grams protein.  30 minutes on the elliptical, 20 minutes strength training.