preop and trying to lose weight, but have high calorie daily goals...now what?

jillcwatson1

Okay...I am still preop and wanting to lose my required weight before doc will schedule surgery. I am at my mid point in the 6 month "diet" phase. I will see the surgeon this week and wanted to have the 35 lbs he said I need to lose. MFP has me set at 1800 calories per day and that is with a goal to lose 2 lbs per week. I have taken off 23 lbs since November, and am happy about that, but that leaves me with 12 more to go. I seldom get in more than about 1500 calories on a daily basis. Some days I eat to satisfaction and I am actually happy under 1000. I am trying new foods and definitely am avoiding foods that got me in trouble before( sweets, junk food, soft drinks, binging on bags of chips, etc). I really need some advice on either where to add the calories, or in accepting that I am not going to get it all in. I am not good on activity, but plan to add when I can, but would NEVER be able to eat the added calories since I would never get there! I can't see me eating icecream just to get back to my calorie goal for the day.

Bugged53

Up protein

ac7nj

Increase protein to your body weight times 0.3 per day. Then use MFP calculation to find out carbohydrates and fats. Next increase your activity with simple little things, like not parking your car at the closest spot, park and walk. Take stairs to go up one level and down two floors. Then start with 30 minutes of cardio.
Try to eliminate all caffeine, and carbonated beverages.
You can do this and it will work

april731

Are you eating low fat stuff (like fat free cheese)? If so, I would eat the full fat version. But I also wouldn't worry about trying to hit the MFP calorie goal if you're satisfied with what you're eating now. You will be eating far fewer calories after surgery and will still lose weight. "Starvation mode" is a myth - if it wasn't, none of us WLS-ers would ever lose any weight!

Also, in most cases, the surgeons are happy to see that you've lost ANY weight, and the amount they gave you is just a guideline. You're doing great!

renovagirl

I would ignore the MFP calorie goal. You have been successful so far and satisfied on the number of calories you have been eating. My surgeon put everyone on high protein, very low carb eating plan for pre surgery weight loss. I was on less than 1000 calories a day with 85-100 grams of protein and less than 50 carbs a day. (I would not recommend any changes without talking to your dr though)

rpyle111

If you are really satiated at whatever you are eating, I would agree that staying there makes sense (as long as your program is happy with that level). My program put me at a very low number (1500 cal per day) compared to what MFP would have had me eat. The high protein (100g /per day) kept me satisfied and the weight just fell off as I was also adding exercise. I asked my program's nutritionist if I should up my calories to a more MFP-sensible deficit and she told me that if I was tolerating (and even thriving) on the 1500/day, that it would provide me with good training for post-surgery.

I kept to the 1500 calories/day for all of my pre-surgery time, lost a lot of weight, and the transition to post-surgery was easier than I expected.

The key for me was sustainability of the pre-surgery rules. If they are not sustainable for you, then upping the calories to a more MFP-suggested number may end up producing a better result.

Rob