Sports Nutritionist versus Nut versus VSG people

I saw the sports nutritionist at the gym. He encouraged me to increase my calories to 1200, keep my carbs at 80 or so and to contiue with protein. My nut said to stay between 600-800, she doesn't have a strong recommendation on carbs. My doctor said say below 800 cals until maintenance but to include some starchy veggies and not worry so much about the carbs. Unless I continue really working out every day then he said I could increase my cals a bit.  A bit? That made me LOL.

So there's 3 different perspectivs and none consistent with what I'm reading here.  My gut instinct is to go with what works. I'm not sure there is an exact formula for everyone. I think some people can do more cals, more carbs, some of us can't. The trend in data, indicates the 600-800 low carb, high protein with exercise is a sure fire way to lose.

I wanted to ask some questions, please. For people who have been at this for awhile, do you lift weights and if so, do you need more cals for that? Does anyone's dr advise not increasing cals with exercise? I'm just looking for data points. I was already losing slow so working out as I go is actually a good thing. I find myself accidentally enjoying the gym now.

Working out now Steph will definitely be beneficial to your weight loss. I know the more I step it up, the scale goes down. I'm 10 months out and on good days, I still try to stay around my 650 calories a day. So far, so good ... I don't feel deprived.
I wish you the best Steph. Hope things are going well for you.

:) How much more do you have to goal? For what it's worth, you look itty bitty. BTW, my son tells me Betsey Johnson went bankrupt so I'm on Amazon doing a mad search for what's left.

Gurl, I am 10 pounds from my personal goal but I have a very good feeling I will want to lose 10 more.  I am focused right now to get to my personal goal and then go from there. 

Itty Bitty?  Sh** gurl, I wish... go look back at jennchap's post from 2 days ago and tell me I don't need to lose some poundage.  I got some major slack from a few people her on OH since I said I was traumtized by those pics & I made it known.  I am at least 10 pounds lighter and down a pant size from those pics but sh**, those pics literally ruined my night.  I'm still thinking about those pics, even though they were taken 6 weeks ago.  Standing next to Jen & Elina didn't help; they are tiny & beautiful BUT I was told to stop comparing myself to others so I need to remember that.  I am freaking hardcore right now thanks to some advice I got from Elina & kairk.  I just pray this motivation doesnt leave me anytime soon. 

In regards to Betsey Johnson, you can still find her stuff at department stores; I think she just closed down her "boutiques".  I get a lot of her stuff at Nordstrom Rack and even ebay but you have to be careful on ebay since a lot of stuff being sold are from China and they are fake but I know enough about her stuff to know what is real or not.  Her stuff is just fun and since I'm not a flashy dresser, I like to wear cute funky jewelry; I love her handbags too.  I love BJ!!!  Ooops, that didn't sound appropriate but heck, I need a good laugh today!!!!

Oh, & today I am wearing a Betsey necklace with a teeny cupcake charm... how appropiate, eh?  ;-)

I just went and looked and I should say I HATE when someone argues with how I feel so I don't want to seem like I am doing that but I honestly think you look great! I am not sure which one is Kairk.

kairk is the handsome gentleman in the blue polo shirt with light plaid shorts.  He's wearing sunglasses.  He is awesome & gives great advice. 

Oh yeah, one of those hot dudes that lost a kajillion pounds in 2 weeks. :)

So here's the deal:  I get different advice from different people all the time.  Before I chose to do this surgery, I did a ton of research and I wanted to know each doctor's expected EWL percentages.  I partly chose my surgeon based on his very high percentage of success as measured by 80-100 % EWL. That's what I wanted.  I listen to many people and take advice from many areas in my life, however, on this, I fully comply and follow my doctor's advice.  It has worked for me and when I go to his support groups, I am surrounded by many other people who have taken his advice and are now at goal and maintaining.  I go to many other support groups, let's just say there is a huge difference in what I see there and even in the emotional atmosphere there.  When I walk into Dr. Cirangle's groups I can almost "smell" success.  It 's in the air.  This works for me, but in the end, I am not a doctor and everyone should do what they think is best based on their own knowledge, experience and education.  I bet you already know what I would tell you to do.  If you are lifting weights, increase your protein to 120 grams without increasing your calories.  I just came from a support group with Dr. C where he talked about this.  On the other hand, if you are exercising more than one hour (I am talking about really strenuous exercise), you might need to increase your calories a bit, but not your carbs.  More protein is always the answer.  And no, it does not harm you in the long term, your body simply switches to a different way of metabolizing calories.  Good luck and I support you no matter what plan you choose to follow.  We each have free choice here.

There were two things that made a huge difference for me (outside of support such as this forum). 1. I started to approach this intellectually rather than emotionally. I'm stronger intellectually than I am emotionally. I find your posts are very pragmatic and in the order and logic, I find comfort. Versus the chaos of emotions that rule an overeater. 2. I hired a really really hot trainer who is fun to work out with. I used it as bait to motivate myself to get TO the gym then began working out on my own as well and found myself liking it. Superficial? Yes. Silly? Yes. Effective? Yes.

So increasing protein not carbs, if I do increase cals makes sense. I asked rob and he said he stays around 600 and has plenty of energy and has never felt better so I think I'll jump in and see what happens. So far, I feel beter with exercise.

The research is showing that eating this way will increase the amount of calories you burn significantly.  I am all about the research and listening to my doctor.  He really follows the research on nutrition and exercise for us, not just the surgery part of this.  He is rather unusual in that respect.  He also comes at this from research and intellect rather than dogma.  If something needs to be tweaked, he tweaks it.  I like that approach, very solid.