What is your calorie intake in maintenance?

Hello OH buddies, I had my one year post op appointment last Thursday and it went very well. I was told that their patient EWL average is 50-80% in two years, and she was really happy and amazed that my EWL was 101% in one year, Woo Hoo! I really do give thanks to my OH buddies for recommending a low carb approach, because even though my doctor plan didn't have me counting carbs, I was pretty strict about being low carb with myself for the first 6 months post op. At 7 months on I added a few more carbs as in my doctors original plan and that really worked for me. Soo, I was told my maintenance calorie range should stay at 1000 to 1200 calories a day for lifetime. To those of you in maintenance, What is your daily calorie intake?

Im still 30 lbs overweight, but I can maintain at about 1800 cal/day. I'd die if my maintenance was at 1200 or lower. You might want to consider some kind of BMR testing - it can be a little pricey but worth it to help figure out whaat your body needs. 

You can always increase your metabolism and ultimately your maintenance calories by doing some strenth training and increasing your lean muscle mass. Then you'll burn more (and thus can eat more) just sitting around :)

Thank you my super woman I must admit, I have been lagging in physical activity lately, but I am doing the Run or Dye 5k this weekend so I better get my lil butt up and step it up

It's my observation that 1000-1200 is a great start point to ease into maintenance.

Those numbers represent a low activity baseline for a lot of folks both men and women.

Sure every bodies metabolism vs. activity and caloric balance can differ.......

My suggestion for non athletic types is to do long term sustainable activities such as walking or bicycle or any low impact activities. Some people have day jobs that are pretty active. 

The key is to develop a balance that is sustainable for the long haul so your not having to adjust your calories/intake all the time. Many fall into the trap of going from really active and getting used to a higher calorie count and not bringing the cals down when they become less active. It's very doable to adjust any many do it just fine..... just easier to maintain with some stability.

My range is about 1200-1600 depending on activity level with 1400-1500 being about average.

***Note: You can increase cals basically two ways or a combination..... the basic two ways are to increase quantity or content. I choose to increase content and keeping quantity low by eating a little bit higher cal foods. By keeping the quantity low preserves restriction for the long haul.

Congrats on beating/blasting your programs goals !!!!

frisco

Thank you soo much Frisco. Makes sense, Will do

What is your calorie intake like right now?   If you are at 800, try to take it up a little at a time.  Go up to 900 for a few weeks ans see how your body responds.  Then take it up to 1000.  

But what ever you do. The rules still apply. Protein first, plenty of water, white carbs are evil, and no liquids with food. You can relax   on special occasions. But don't let your self think of it as a treat.  It has to be about a special occasion rather than a reward. If it becomes a reward, it's easy to start to find reasons to reward yourself.  

Thank you. Right now I am at 900-1000 calories per day with no physical activity. 1200 calories with physical activity and on the weekends I do still stick to protein first then veggies and I do fit in some carbs into my plan, not to much though. I will enjoy a few bites of a treat at times. I can have a few bites of something and be satisfied. Thank goodness I am not carb sensitive

Wow.  I'm losing weight on 1,000 - 1200 calories a day, and I am female.  Of course I'm over 5'10" tall.  I don't exercise because of a charcot foot - can't walk much.  But I do some sitting exercises, just not every day.  I can't say yet what my maintenance calorie level will be, but maybe around 1,500 - 1,800?

I was thinking almost the same. Like keeping my maintenance calorie range at 1200-1500. I will just try adding 100 calories at a time from 1200. My family already told me not to lose any more weight, lol. I totally agree. I am happy were I am

Hi, I average 1500-1800 on work out days 1200 - 1500 non workout days.