Adding Calories........ Question?

I am in between phase 2-3 with my meal plan. My question is when I start adding calories to my diet, will I gain weight? I am taking in around 500-600 ca/day now. My surgeon wants me to get up to 900-1000 calories by March. I am afraid to add those calories! Afraid I will gain weight. I drink between 64-80 oz of water a day and try to exercise 30 minutes 5x/ week. I am 5'4'' and weigh 190 now. I want to lose 50 more lbs. So, what do you think adding calories will do to me? Thanks in advance!!

KarenH.

You should follow your plan and go with your surgeon's advice.  There's no way that going up to 900-1000 calories a day will make you gain weight.  If you laid in bed all day and did nothing but breathe your body would probably burn more than 1500 calories on it's own.  As long as you are doing all the right things, and it sounds like you are, you'll lose the weight!

Thanks, Amy! I guess my mind is thinking of the past,,,, I ate more calories,,,, I will gain. But I am beginning to understand now. I will add more calories gradually. Must admit though.... scary to me!

I see things differently. While it's true that 900-1000 calories won't make you gain weight, it also won't allow you to lose weight as quickly and as you get closer to goal, maybe not at all.

This isn't a popular view here, but all surgeons' plans are not equally successful.  If you're feeling well on less calories and you're making your protein goals, there's no reason to eat more at this point. I had about the same amount of weight to lose as you did and ate 600 calories or less all the way to goal. 

Thank you so much!! :)

Karen

My Dr frowned on my sticking to 500 Calories also. But as long as I get my vitamins, water and 80 GMs of protein, I'm going to stay here as long as I can. 

You absolutely will NOT gain weight on 900-1000 calories a day as long as those calories are high in protein and low in carb.  Promise!  

Even if you did nothing but sleep and breathe, your body would probably still need a good 1300-1500 calories a day to survive.  You'll be fine! 

My Nut says that once I have healed up and become more active, my body will require the additional calories to burn more fat.  That if I continue with starvation mode, my metabolism will slow down because it doesn't know the difference between starving on a deserted island and being on a diet.  You want to build up some muscle because muscle keeps your metabolism higher even while at resting, and muscle needs protein to form.  That my increase in calories should come mostly from lean protein and low glycemic carb.