Need some suggestions please!!!!

Hi im sweetcheeks3. i recently had gastric bypass surgery Dec 14,2011. im new tonite not sure how this all works. Hope things work out for you.

As long as you are reasonably close to your goal, don't fret it. If you are several hundred away, there might be a problem. People talk about "starvation mode" that your body can go into when you don't get enough calories. And then you won't lose weight at all! It's a delicate balancing act that only you can know for yourself. Worrying about it won't help either!

If you're hungry, eat. If you're not, don't. Just listen carefully to the cues your body gives you.

If you are worried about not-enough calories, I suggest adding some healthy fats into your diet (you should be incorporating them anyway!). Nuts and peanut butter are a great way to get some healthy fats & only takes a little bit to add some calories. More protein would also help, you seem to be eating a lot of carbs and not enough proteins/fats, in my opinion. I'm not a professional or anything, but that will definitely help you reach your calorie goal and will help you have a well-rounded nutrient content in your daily diet.

I would add more protein and try eating less processed foods like that cafe steamer. Processed foods tend to have higher sodium and sometimes lack important nutrients you would get if you cooked for yourself.

If you are logging accurately, then you're undereating. Estimate how much exercise you will be doing and plan ahead. You want to see "0 calories remaining", not hundred of calories remaining.

Another approach is to set your goal to maintain weight, hit that number, and use the exercise to achieve your deficit.

My 2 cents: I agree with the suggestions to add lean protein and healthy fats like nuts. You also seem pretty low on fiber, so try more fruits/vegs/beans/whole grains. If you are losing at a reasonable rate (no more than 2 lbs per week), then overall you're doing really well. If you're losing 3+ lbs per week or not losing at all, you probably need to eat more.

MFP works by giving you a daily deficit to lose whatever amount of weight you set it up for (1-2 pounds per week). You need to eat the calories they give you to be losing at the correct rate the healthiest way possible. This includes lots of fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins, and as little processed food as possible (that's the healthiest, not that I am perfect, far from it.). When you exercise, this gives you extra calories that you should eat to fuel your body so that it works most efficiently. If you don't feed your machine, it may not give you the results you want. I followed this and lost 50 pounds! I've kept it off (within 5 pounds) already for 6 months because it's easy to maintain this lifestyle.

Build strength, because building muscle helps burn fat, do moderate cardio several days a week, and eat a healthy diet as close to your daily net calories as possible. It WILL work!!!!

When I eat healthy I can eat A LOT of food. Some high calorie foods i like are almonds for snacks, a real whole egg at breakfast and protein shakes can add calories too.

Never eat under 1000-1200 calories at the least, and ur goal should be to eat between 1200-1600 cals a day, that way ur not starving urself, and u can get used to the routine of eating that amount! U shouldn't eat if ur not hungry though, never. I don't know how tall u are or what ur goal is, but I'm 5'5 and my goal is 124 lbs and I feel best when I eat 1500 cals. I exercise everyday, and I usually end up eating more than that most days due to my big appitite haha:) but I feel best at 1500 cals! Oh, and last but not least, make sure u are getting lots of veggies in ur diet! A big salad at both meals is good! And make sure to eat a good breakfast, dinner and supper, and snacks between each. The most important thing in all this is what u are eating. U shouldn't be eating processed foods and sugar or white flour! Eat 100% whole wheat bread and noodles, and brown rice. Over time u will not want any different if u don't like it already! So be very aware of what u are putting in ur mouth, it will be what makes u or breaks u:)