6+ months out ... How many calories do you average per day?

[needtofeelnormal]

Hi.

Just wondering for those of you that's no longer an 'op-newbie' - how many calories do you consume per day?

I'm 8 months out and I've just had my dietician appointment - she reckons about 1200 a day .... But I'm doing between 1500 -1750 ???.

The sensation of hunger is starting to return .. as are my bad habits! ?

 

[Jamast]

To be honest, I think the 1200 suggested by the dietician seems high for only 8mth out. I'm just a year post op and have an average of 1000 a day (sometimes slightly less, sometimes slightly more but never over 1100. I can't remember the last time I felt hungry, it must have been pre-op and as for bad habits, I have to say that's down to you. Please don't take that the wrong way. I have had the odd moment over the past year when I've automatically nibbled on something, or picked up something to eat out of old habits, not hunger - but as as soon as I've realised what I am doing I've Immediately stopped it. It's the automatic habits, the stuff that appears ingrained in our brains that's the hardest to avoid - but only you can do it. So do what I do - do not berate yourself, don't think "sod it, I've blown it now so it doesn't matter". It does matter, a slip up occasionally won't do any damage to your progress if you give yourself a quick verbal kick up the backside and get back on track lovey - you can do this. X

 

[Tules]

Hey there,
I am struggling with this too. Also with bad habits I t-shirt coming in, already.
One clinic overseas suggested not to keep track of calories, but nutritional value. Each mouthful, they said think is this going to give nutrition to my body? If you fancied, and snatched a bit of friends croissant for example, that is your weekly bad food allowance. They suggested to allow one "bad" food a week, something you really fancy, have a bit of it. And the rest of the week observe that each mouthful is what your body needs.
I am finding this approach more doable and have started to work towards it.
Good luck. This is an on going battle but the results will wonderul!

 

[Venture]

Sounds like a sensible strategy Tules I'll remember that one!
Can you post-oppers give some little out of 10 ratings for stuff? Just to help get across how much you feel these things. Lets say,
Hunger
Fullness
Cravings
With 0 being the easiest thing in the world and 10 being the same as you were pre-op.

 

[Butterfly_lady]

I've never counted my calories, I just try to stick to protein then veg with carbs after that, I am 18 months out 11st 8lbs lost and still losing (very very slowly)

 

[Tules]

Good to hear it works Butterfly Lady. Counting calories is tiresome. I really hope.to change my thought pattern.

I had some auto corrections on my post... t-shirts coming in ???

Venture, for me early weeks of post operation,
Hunger - 0
Fullness 10, early days couple of sips..You are done!
Craving: 0

After a few weeks I had head hunger a few times.

Adjusting to new stomach takes a while. You help yourself to some food, have a look at your plate...put half back because that is the most you can manage.

I like savoury things so crave " sometimes eat!" Nuts, popcorn and a few crisps. It is not craving really, rather a habit which I am trying to break. That is my challenge. However the difference now is, before I would eat the whole pack of nuts, now am full with the quarter.

I smell pastry in stations, oh gosh it smells good. But when I take a second to think, realise my stomach would actually not want it. It really feels like that, you look at something and think, no my stomach will not like it.
The stomach rules!

 

[siana58]

Hey there,
I am struggling with this too. Also with bad habits I t-shirt coming in, already.
One clinic overseas suggested not to keep track of calories, but nutritional value. Each mouthful, they said think is this going to give nutrition to my body? If you fancied, and snatched a bit of friends croissant for example, that is your weekly bad food allowance. They suggested to allow one "bad" food a week, something you really fancy, have a bit of it. And the rest of the week observe that each mouthful is what your body needs.
I am finding this approach more doable and have started to work towards it.
Good luck. This is an on going battle but the results will wonderul!

Body builders do this, have a "cheat day"when they go all out and eat what they want, then recliner strict after that. It shocks metabolism apparently....not brave enough to try it....

 

[siana58]

Recliner....jeez this auto correct is well weird.....uber strict was what I meant...

 

[los in it]

Like butterfly I dont really work out calories as such just work on eating enough proteins in each meal and cutting out the rubbish so I have no real idea how many calories I get
also like an other on here head hunger is a b***h at times but I would in the pass have 2 x bags of chrisps 2x chocolate bars AND 2x fizzy drinks I now just manage 1/2 a bag if crisps no fizzy drinks and maybe a cube or 2 of chocolate that does me fine I only now need a taster than a mid afternoon sugar sugar overload!

 

[needtofeelnormal]

Thanks everyone. I only started counting calories a week ago. I've lost 70% of my excess weight in 8 months but haven't lost a pound since February. The calorie counting was just my way of seeing where I'm going wrong ... And its clearly identified my problem - 'snacking'. I realised I was having around 200 calories for breakfast, 300 for lunch, 400 for dinner and up to 800 on 'snacks'. This ridiculous amount of calories was consumed within 2 hours of me getting home from work! A hand full of nuts, few squares of chocolate, one of the kids chicken goujons, a few crisps, a baby bel ... And before you know it ... The diet is well and truly out of the window!

I just can't get my head around the mental problems I have with food. Lets face it, we all have suffered from a food addiction - otherwise we wouldn't be here! The bypass has restricted my body but not effected my mind. I find it so hard to apply self discipline and my answer to everything is food ?

I feel hopeless, pathetic and weak ?

 

[los in it]

Not at all!its hard TO change a way of eating you may have had for many many years in a few months I cant eat nowhere the amount I use to eat but my head still wants certain foods which I can mostly avoid but have given in then only had a bite ie grilled bacon rolls on a Sunday with the papers! I have on auto pilot got up made 2x rolls proper bacon jammed packed sat down then only manage 2/3 of 1 roll !I think"well I wont do that again, what a waste "but im only 8 months out so im not going to beat myself up too much and remind myself this is a marathon and not a sprint for the mind and the body

 

[siana58]

Every day I prepare food, or pile up my salad box in work restaurant, only to look at it and realise I can't eat that much....slowly getting better, but this food gathering auto pilot is a pain in my not so lardy arse!

 

[Venture]

Does all that kind of thing ever bother you? Or is it just amusing?!

 

[siana58]

It amuses me, then bothers me when I realise how deluded I was previously. I rarely get hungry, unless I've left it too long between meals or had some of the devil's juice (vino)

 

[kurstywursty]

The vino is the devils brew. Unfortunately I love it ;-) but I do graze when drinking. So it has to go

My dietitian wants me to get to the stage where I don't count anything. I just eat healthy food and use my band !!!!!

Tules your approach sounds a good one though. Let me know how it's working for you long term xxx

 

[valentine]

I stalled at 9 months out ..
Decided to track what j eat with my fit bit and it has made me cut back as I seem to be more accountable for what I am eating when it is listed..

I have to say that since I have been logging my intake my hunger seems to have disappeared..

I also log my fluid intake on the fit bit now and I am also finally hitting my water targets everyday..

I would say that my average food intake is 1000 cals a day ...
Since I've been keeping tabs on everything that goes in my mouth and make sure I hit the healthy 10,000 steps plus a day my scales are on the move again..

I don't think I get hungry I think it's just head hunger or thirst...
Since I upped the fluids it has really helped with the confusing signals that we all seem to get..

It's all a learning curve that's for sure xx

 

[Kar8858]

I'm 9 months out post sleeve and still count my calories and protein every day. I average 1000 cals a day now. It works for me but that's how I work!

 

[needtofeelnormal]

Im definitely consuming way too many calories then .... What is your typical day to get to a 1000 calories. Even when I'm trying to be good I'm struggling to keep it below 1400. I feel like I haven't even had an operation ?

 

[Venture]

Im definitely consuming way too many calories then .... What is your typical day to get to a 1000 calories. Even when I'm trying to be good I'm struggling to keep it below 1400. I feel like I haven't even had an operation ?

What's a typical food day for you? Be honest! It might just be that you're eating the wrong healthy stuff!

 

[Butterfly_lady]

I don't count calories as I already said but heres my typical day if anyone wants to work it out

Brekkie small yog with a tablespoon granola
Lunch Salad with about 1oz cheese and 2 thin slices ham
Dinner is 3/4 of a chicken breast with veg/salad
Snacks hard boiled egg with cucumber/fruit/2 water biscuit with dairylea
20+ cups of tea with skimmed milk

I'm 18 months out and still losing very very slowly