Upping Calorie Intake??

Thank you!! That's what I was thinking and what others are saying - so I think that's great!

Thanks :)

Not a doctor...
Not your surgeon....
Not a nutritionist....

Having said that....

From about 3 monthspost-op until 11 months post-op, I stayed at 600-800 calories, 80-100g protein a day, 40g or fewer carbs while doing both strength training and aerobic (cardio) exercise consistently. 

I had lots of fat to burn, and my body converted it too fuel. Easy-peasy.  My only advice would be is when you get to 'normal' BMI range, start upping both carbs and calories even if your personal goal is lower into the 'normal' range.  Once you don't have lots of fat to burn, being in a significant calorie deficit can cause you to stop your period which in turn can cause bone loss, etc.  That's when the general minimum recommendation of a 1200 calorie/day diet actually becomes relevant. 

That's great advice Krazydoglady!  I never thought it was a good idea to up calories while still in losing phase.  Thank you :)

Jen

Thank you!! I really appreciate your input! It all helps so much!!

If you lurk around these boards long enough and pay attention to what the vets did, you will see that all of the successful vets had a very clear plan for WL. I think it's completely absurd for doctors to cut people open, remove their stomach and then tell them to just go eat healthy. I mean seriously...you need a plan.

I was very liberal with my calories or carbs, but I didnt even start hitting 800-900 calories until at least 6 month out, and I was exercising. Unless you are going to be doing several hours of intense exercise a day, you should be fine having a small pre-workout snack and some protein after. Exercise doesnt automatically mean you need to up your calories (the risk with that approach is that its very hard to cut back later on - and over time, as you get further and further out, your calories will start going up, even unintentionally just because you can eat more and appetite might return).

Thank you!! That really helps! I have been looking and talking on here for a few weeks now and I have seen what you are saying. That's why this is so confusing. I am not losing like I want to either, so I don't know if upping my calories will do that? But if it's hard to go back down, I don't want that either. 

Still in the dilemma!! lol!! Thank you though - it does help :)

 For me I exercise pretty heavily and stay under 800 calories a day.  We have fat to burn and our bodies will burn it!  On non-heavy exercise days I stay at or under 20g of carbs a day, on heavy exercise days (3 days a week) I let my carbs up into 50g a day because I was finding I was exhausted without it.  I get these extra carbs from milk, not crap.  For me a cup of milk after a workout is the perfect "meal".  My calories still stay under 800 and usually under 700.  I am steadily losing each week at 2-4 lbs, and now that I've figured out my exhaustion thing, I'm never tired.  

That being said as I get close to a normal BMI or a lower body fat % this will have to change, so that needs to be closely monitored.

Thank you!! I am not losing like that - maybe that's why she is concerned? Also she knows I was tired a couple of weeks ago! But when I started drinking water I got better. But I also notice if I workout I am VERY tired all day and even into the weekend, regardless of my calories or carbs. I don't know why this is all so confusing. It should be a lot easier than this at 7 weeks out - maybe I am too hard on myself - I don't know.

Thanks for the input!!

 From what I've seen around here many NUTs really don't know about WLS.  They know what a healthy diet looks like for a "normal" person but have no clue about dealing with the morbidly obese.  Many cling to the myths, caffeine, starvation mode, etc. .  . and haven't looked at new findings in the last 5 years.  I am lucky my NUT deals almost exclusively with post-op patients and is on the badwagon of 600-800 calories 70g+ protein and under 40g of carbs which has the most proven track record.  You also have to remember you are only 7 weeks out.  That's not that far.  I"m 3 weeks ahead of you and I see a noticeable difference in my energy levels the last 2 weeks.  I'm struggling with other issues but energy isn't one of them.  make sure you are getting plenty of protein!

Thank you! My NUT deals only with WLS patients so I know she is coming from a good place. I think my surgeon's office has a different approach to it which is what scared me in the beginning. But I knew I could go on a plan that would work for me regardless. I am getting between 60-90 grams of protein a day. So that I have figured out. But my I am not eating any veggies or fruit because I can't afford the calories unless I want to compromise my protein. The only way to do it all is to up the calories. If I was losing weight like this, then I wouldn't agree with her. But I am not. I am not losing at any consistent pace. And although I am only 7 weeks out. I have been eating on my current plan for about 4-5 weeks. I stalled bad and now I am again. This is all SO frustrating! I can't stand it! Anytime I have ever done anything before, the more I ate, the more I lost. (and I don't mean bad meals, but good ones). It's hard to not listen to my NUT AND everyone on here but it makes it more confusing!!