Post Op Calories

[butterflybecca]

My doc told me today I should be consuming only 300-400 calories a day! Holy low-count!!!
I'm freaking out about this. What have you post-op folks been told?

[Anamor2011]

I will have to go look in my book, but I thought that was only like the first month after surgery. I've heard 500 calories. I don't think that is a long term calorie intake.

[scgal21]

I'm eating between 60-800 at 4 weeks out. For the first couple of weeks I was around 400. It seems to me that you would go into starvation mode with only 300-400 calories for any length of time. How is your energy level? Have you had any stalls yet?

[scgal21]

I'm eating between 600-800 and I'm 4 weeks out. For the first couple of weeks I was around 300-400. It seems to me that you would go into starvation mode with only 300-400 calories for any length of time. How is your energy level? Have you had any stalls yet?

[Anamor2011]

I am 3 weeks out and I am doing about the same 600-800 calories. I eat everything sugar free, fat free, and not many carbs at all.

[Dana]

If your carbs are low and your protein is high it really doesn't matter how much fat or calories you take in. I've lost 6 lbs this week eating mostly regular bacon. Its just what I wanted. Study low carb, it will open a lot of choices for you and help you lose better. 400 cals is too low for long term, the first month that ab all you can get in but you need to build up to 800- 1000 of mostly protein.

[Grace]

I looked back and I was at 500 calories for the first 10 wks of "real" food, then I needed more energy and fuel and went up to about 850 where I am now.
How they expect you to get enough protein in at 300 calories is a puzzle. You could only do it if you were just drinking 3 tubes of protein a day. Getting in even 50 gms of protein, even as steamed chicken breast, plain would require you to eat 6 oz of chicken breast a day. That would give you 281 calories and 53 gms of protein. I suppose it's do able but pretty tough! I'm with Dana, I'm an Atkins girl so it's all about the protein.

[cowgirljane]

I am just over 3 weeks out, and am consuming around 550-650 ... including my vitamins. My current vitamin regimin adds about 55-60 calories a day! I plan to change that once i am cleared for pills.

[Gwyn]

I eat around 800 a day. the first couple weeks I really struggled to get 400 or 500.

[T_Rob124]

My dietician told me not to focus so much on calories,but more on high protein, low carb and watch the total fat content in foods. You need more calories for fuel and you may actually make yourself sick with so little calories, maybe you should double check with your dietician.

[Shugaplum]

I am 47 days out, and I was on a stall, and was consuming about 600-700 cals a day. I increased to about 800, and the pounds started falling off again. Sometimes I think your body needs a jolt of something different. I never get less than 65 gms of protein a day.

[butterflybecca]

Sounds like a great plan! I'm going to try that again. I was still drinking the protein drinks too just to ensure get enough protein. But I'm finally sick of them.

[butterflybecca]

Wow!! That's what I heard too - about increasing calories to lose more. 400 is too low! I'm 37 days out and man oh man, that is just too darn low.

I am 47 days out, and I was on a stall, and was consuming about 600-700 cals a day. I increased to about 800, and the pounds started falling off again. Sometimes I think your body needs a jolt of something different. I never get less than 65 gms of protein a day.

[butterflybecca]

If your carbs are low and your protein is high it really doesn't matter how much fat or calories you take in. I've lost 6 lbs this week eating mostly regular bacon. Its just what I wanted. Study low carb, it will open a lot of choices for you and help you lose better. 400 cals is too low for long term, the first month that ab all you can get in but you need to build up to 800- 1000 of mostly protein.

Sounds like a great plan! I'm going to try that again. I was still drinking the protein drinks too just to ensure get enough protein. But I'm finally sick of them.

[butterflybecca]

Thank you all for your advice and comments. I knew I could count on you all!!!