Weight loss Surgery Question RNY 4/27

Ehmeeheart wrote: »

I'd suggest checking out the obesityhelp website. it has a lot more useful info than what you will find on MFP (for this type of question) im still pre op, so no expert, but i also asked the same question as you, and received a lot of useful information. Basically protein first, but calories are king. the feedback seems that most try to keep 600-800 calories until they reach goal, and then increase as your stomach and maintenance allows (1000-1200 ish from what i see). the bulk of these calories from protein, and minimizing carbs. (of course some people are exceptions)

All of which lines up with everything i've received from my bariatric clinic. It just good to hear it from others in a similar situation.

Stupid question. I've never had weight loss surgery, but is 1200 really maintanance? Let's say someone is 5'4" [average height for a woman, more or less] and 140 lbs and active. 1200 cals seems really low. I know once you have wls, the stomach is teeny tiny so you can't eat a lot at once, but surely CICO still applies.

I can't imagine being on 1200 cals as maintance since my TDEE is around 2400 cals/day.

MKEgal wrote: »

here's a simple tool from the Baylor College of Medicine which will take into account your age, weight (either current or goal), and activity level when telling you how many calories you need to maintain that weight and how many servings of the various food groups you should be eating.

No, Just No.

This Nutrition calculator is intended for Children. It is wildly inaccurate for adults and will suggest unsafe calorie goals for adults. It will give a 35 year old sedentary person with a BMI of 18 a calorie goal that is below their BMR and gives starvation level numbers for older people.

I know you mean well but please stop linking people to this site. It's not intended for adults and following the advice it gives could be dangerous.

astrampe wrote: »

Just my dumb question - but why would you undergo very serious surgery, just to be limited to 600-800 calories afterwards, and a maintenance of 1200 - if you can stick with 1200 and lose the weight anyways?

Because it's usually a life or death matter, so the dr makes someone lose a certain amount of weight for surgery for that it's safer. Usually people are able to stick with the plan short term because it's motivating for them enough to do the surgery.

I've never had WLS but it's supposed to be a last ditch effort when nothing else works and there's a low quality of life. At least for gastric bypass. Now are there less invasive, reversible procedures like the lapband.

I have a question for OP. I looked at your profile pic and and the stats you posted mentioning you are 165 at 5'5 now and have lost 60 lbs since WLS. That doesn't seem that high for WLS to me. When I've seen people getting the surgery they are double to triple the size they should be (bmi) etc...although that could be wrong. I'm not judging it at all, I'm curious because I've wondered if it was something I would do due to my struggles with volume eating but for me, the focus is on behaviour management for right now. If you feel like sharing, I would love to hear more.

bbontheb wrote: »

I have a question for OP. I looked at your profile pic and and the stats you posted mentioning you are 165 at 5'5 now and have lost 60 lbs since WLS. That doesn't seem that high for WLS to me. When I've seen people getting the surgery they are double to triple the size they should be (bmi) etc...although that could be wrong. I'm not judging it at all, I'm curious because I've wondered if it was something I would do due to my struggles with volume eating but for me, the focus is on behaviour management for right now. If you feel like sharing, I would love to hear more.

Requirement for WLS is BMI of 40 or BMI of 35 with co-morbids (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc)

astrampe wrote: »

Just my dumb question - but why would you undergo very serious surgery, just to be limited to 600-800 calories afterwards, and a maintenance of 1200 - if you can stick with 1200 and lose the weight anyways?

If my fat self could have stuck to 1200 calories before having surgery than that would have been great. However when I was 300+ lbs 1200 calories was a meal which is why I weighed that much. I had the sleeve 3 years ago and now I average around 1200-1500 calories a day. I was on a fast track to many health complications and couldn't stop my intake of food so I chose the surgical route. I lost over 100lbs and have gained and lost 20lbs over the past couple years (currently in the losing them part again). If I hadn't had the surgery I am well convinced I'd be 400lbs or more right now. It was my choice and one that I'm happy I made.

OP- I am surprised you didn't get a plan that took you all the way out. My office gave me a plan that was before and after surgery. I knew how many weeks/months each stage was and then how many calories I would require in each stage which included the maintenance stage. I learned this all before I decided, during my 6 month nutritional counseling, and after surgery teaching. I actually got a huge binder with all the info. And I do agree that at your stage a bariatric surgical forum would better answer your questions.

Colorscheme wrote: »

Ehmeeheart wrote: »

I'd suggest checking out the obesityhelp website. it has a lot more useful info than what you will find on MFP (for this type of question) im still pre op, so no expert, but i also asked the same question as you, and received a lot of useful information. Basically protein first, but calories are king. the feedback seems that most try to keep 600-800 calories until they reach goal, and then increase as your stomach and maintenance allows (1000-1200 ish from what i see). the bulk of these calories from protein, and minimizing carbs. (of course some people are exceptions)

All of which lines up with everything i've received from my bariatric clinic. It just good to hear it from others in a similar situation.

Stupid question. I've never had weight loss surgery, but is 1200 really maintanance? Let's say someone is 5'4" [average height for a woman, more or less] and 140 lbs and active. 1200 cals seems really low. I know once you have wls, the stomach is teeny tiny so you can't eat a lot at once, but surely CICO still applies.

I can't imagine being on 1200 cals as maintance since my TDEE is around 2400 cals/day.

1000-1200 calories as maintenance for a WLS patient seems to be a norm based on what I've need on those forums. there may be exceptions, but genetically some people just are predisposed to being overweight and this is how they need to eat to maintain a healthy weight. Goals for WL patients after surgery do not usually target calories but are more geared to getting in a healthy amount of protein and water and taking vitamins because they are not capable of eating the same amount as others.