Da*n calories

Ok, I'm about to lose my mind.  Which isn't that hard to do according to my DH.  I've been at the same weight for a couple months.  No big deal to me.  I'm quite content to be the weight that I am.  So where's my problem you say.  Well it's these crazy calories.  I can't seem to get enough of them.  My nut gave me grief at my one year because of this.  I have tried to increase them, but the problems lie in the other parts.  To get close to my calories, I would go over in fats or carbs.  I have no idea what else to do.  I'm supposed to get between 1300-1500 calories, 50 g of fat, 100 g of carbs, and 80 g of protein.  This is my total for the day to give you an idea: calories 1149 fat 47 g carbs  96 g protein  98 g I know I'm only 151 calories under, but this is just about everyday.  I hardly ever get close to 1300.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Bethany, 1300-1500 calories at 1 year out must be tough; I can get there if I graze allot but otherwise I can't eat that amount regularly at 3+ years post-op.  Although you didn't quiet make the calories your fat, carbs and protein are where they need to be; I wouldn't stress about a few calories.

 

 

Thanks for the reply.  I usually don't stress about them, but my last bloodwork showed I was malnurished.  I'm afraid I still might be.  I won't know till next month though.

Honestly, Bethany, I'm tryin' not to hate ya!  I think if you're getting pretty close to 1200 cals AND you're maintaining your weight, you're doing great.  I'm not saying to ignore your nut, by any means, but geez, you are doing GREAT--seems a shame for you to be stressing over this!   I don't know how fanatical your nut is about your getting in MORE protein, but I'm just thinking--I start each day w/ an EAS AdvantEDGE Carb Control protein drink (110 cals., 17 g. protein, 3 g. fat, 4 g. carb).  Something  like that would give you pretty darned close to the desired counts, except that your protein would be high.   You can tell by my stats that I have ZERO problems getting in enough calories, so I really can't "relate"!    But you are doing a fabulous job--please don't obsess over your exact numbers as long as all is going well!

Now that's a first!  LOL.  My nut's great about calories.  Like I said in my previous post, I was malnurished on my last bloodwork and was told to increase my calories.  I also have to increase them because I workout so much.  I think that's why I'm not losing anymore.  I know I can lose the last 6-10 pounds, but I don't think my body will let me.  It's hording all the calories it can get.  It doesn't help that when I had my BMR done, I discovered I burn almost 2700 calories a day and need to take in about 1500 just to be in a decent weightloss zone.  I also have a pretty fast metabolism so that doesn't help either.  Not that I'm complaining.  I do drink a protein shake in the morning, but it's only 90 calories.  Oh well, I guess we'll see what she says next month.

I was having the same trouble...I had to try all kinds of different combos of food...I find that on weekends I usually don't get enough calories (For my own preference) because I stay busy and don't eat longer periods of time and sometimes skip a snack and can't make it up later.... But during the week I have more time to play with my menu and roughly figure out my meals and calories in my head for two days or so in advance...I like to get to 1350-1450....But I don't usually get there...I finally decided that something had to give...It was my carbs....They had to be a little higher in order to get in the natural fiber I wanted in my diet....I tried to do without protein supps and I could not bring the calories or the protein up...So if you don't do a protein drink you might try that... Plus I eat a low fat yogurt greek yogurt...It has triple the protein of other yogurt and you can mix a SF jam into it for flavor.   You really have to play with your menu...Look at what some people eat on the accountibility thread...We all have different numbers we are trying to meet...but food choices and combos might help give you an idea.

Thanks for the advice you gave me.  I play with my menu as much as possible.  It's hard during the week because I teach and can't exactly stop in the middle of class to eat a decent snack.  I hope to figure it out eventually.  I will talk to my nut when I go for my 18 month checkup next month.

Unfortunately, the math for your recommended daily food plan doesn't add up, which is why you can't get to 1300-1500 calories without going over in some area.  Here's why: Each gram of carbohydrates and protein contains 4 calories.  Each gram of fat contains 9 calories.  So based on your recommended composition, you get this: 100 grams of carbs x 4 calories per gram = 400 calories 80 grams of protein x 4 calories per gram = 320 calories 50 grams of fat x 9 calories per gram = 450 calories 400 + 320 + 450 = 1170 calories If you want to get to 1300-1500 calories per day, you will have to increase the numbers of carbs, fats, and protein you take in.  Based on the ratio of your recommended calorie balance, you're getting roughly 35% of your calories from carbs, 27% from protein, and 38% from fat.  If you want to get to 1500 calories and maintain the same ratios, here's what it would look like: 132 grams of carbs x 4 calories per gram = 528 calories 101 grams of protein x 4 calories per gram = 404 calories 63 grams of fat x 9 calories per gram = 567 calories 528 + 404 + 567 =  1499 calories For me, that would be too much fat, so I would probably bump down the fat grams and bump up the carbs and protein a bit more to reach the 1500/calorie a day mark.   I'm an avid exerciser (10+ hours per week, split between strength training and cardio), so I need more carbs to provide adequate energy for my exercise needs.  So I use a different ratio:  50% of calories from carbs, 25% of calories from protein, and 25% of calories from fats.  It took me a while to figure out what worked best for my body, and I used a daily electronic food journal to help me figure it out. 

I hope this information is helpful.  Good luck on your continuing journey! 

Kellie

WOWEE Kellie... That was flipping awesome!  LOL  Where were you when I was trying to figure this out myself! ??? I thought I was going crazy because I could NOT get my calories up without raising carbs...and I wanted more complex carbs anyway...I had no idea someone had a formula for this...So now I feel so totally and utterly justified for raising my carbs and I thank you sooooo much!!!  (especially since I log my food intake) I was hoping people weren't thinking "Is she trying to gain weight or something?"  LOL   I sux at math...But I am a problem solver so I still figured it out on paper but could never put it quite so eloquently as that!   Big hugs! Anita  

I'm glad this was helpful, Anita.  I've done a LOT of research and analysis about daily calorie intake, effect of diet composition on weight loss, etc., all with a view towards learning how to maintain when I'm done losing.   Many WLS folks would freak about the number of carbs I eat (250-300 grams on most days), but I'm 29+ months out, started at 396 pounds, currently at 189 and am positive I will reach 170-175 before plastics and 155-165 after plastics.   Anyway, glad my post was helpful to you!  Have a great day -  Kellie