Question:
Honeymoon
How long is the "honeymoon" period after WLS? When can I expect to do the reeeeally hard work? It's hard now...but during this time, everyone is losing no matter what. When does it become really hard to lose/keep the weight off? And please don't respond with "if you do what your supposed to do, then you don't have to worry." I want real answers from real people who are trying their best etc. I don't want to hear back from perfectionists. No offence to all you perfectionists, but I am not perfect with this WLS thing and would never pretend to be. I am just a young woman trying her best. Thanks in advance for your answers :-) — kittyluver77 (posted on August 1, 2007)
August 1, 2007
How far "out are you. I can assure you that no everyone is losing. I
am 4 months out and haven't lost a pound in about a month. So I'd love to
hear from those "strugglers" too. It seems that for some the
weight just falls off - no matter what they do - and then there is us.
— bjkgriffith
August 1, 2007
What kind of surgery did you have?
— 0204
August 1, 2007
I really appreciate your honesty. It's refreshing! I will admit, I've had
it pretty easy. I was NEVER hungry so I barely ate anything - thus, I lost
a lot really fast. I am 15 months post-op...down from 310lbs to 128lbs. I
had problems with constipation from 4-8 months probably...had to see a GI
doc and have a colonoscopy and everything. I had a hernia repaired around
month 9. I got my appetite back around then too so that was really nice -
I actually enjoyed food! They say the "honeymoon" phase is 12-16
months. That's about right for me, personally. I am no longer losing
weight and so now the maintenance comes in. I do find that I'm listening
to head hunger more recently. It's like, in the beginning you are so
strict with yourself and doing everything right. As time goes by, you get
more slack and that's when bad things happen. So I'm trying to get back on
track right now by upping my protein and exercising more. I've talked to
people, though, that struggle their first year and then it's smooth
sailing. It's a hard journey - but totally worth it. Don't feel alone!
If you ever want to talk, email me at [email protected]. Good luck to
you!!! ~Sarah in VA
— platypus
August 1, 2007
Well, i will start by saying the typical "EVERYONE LOSES @ A DIFFERENT
RATE" bit ; ) Now that...that's out of the way. for me personally, I
had RNY WLS and was losing steadily until about til the 8-12 month mark (At
that point i am was lucky to lose 5 lbs. per month up until now; i am 15
months post-op now) However, i have been eating right,taking my vits, &
getting water in, but not exercising as much as i was supposed to (due to
having a hernia & TT on 7/19) I think i lost the majority of my weight
within the first 6 months after surgery. Also (KEEP IN MIND) if you are a
lap band pt. you will also have a slower weightloss than a RNY pt. and
depending on wether or not you are considered a lightweight or not can play
into the process as well / I.E. are you only needing to lose 80-100 lbs. or
200+ lbs for example..the more obese you are seems to play into the
weightloss factor as well....As for perfectionists !!! There's no room for
them in this process as far as i'm concerned~even the most proclaimed
poster child for this surgery @ one point or another has cheated in some
way or another; all we can do is "OUR BEST"
best of luck to you~Tiffany
— tiffany E.
August 1, 2007
Early on like you are I read your profile you lose no matter what you do.
Now ITS IMPORTANT to maximise the easy loss honeymoon perriod by doing
things like exercising, Later it will be much harder to lose and you may
stall out never getting to goal. Exercise can be a brisk 30 miinute walk a
few times a week. If you choose not to make the lifetsyle changes now you
have no one to blame but yourself if you fail to get to goal. For over 6
months I was never hungry and once went 3 days without eating a thing
besides plain water I had very little hunger for over a year and bottomed
underweight. Sadly those days are long gone and I have gained:( still way
lighter happier and healthier than pre op but still its bothersome. So
yyour profile said your going to florida...... you doing disney? lots of
walking now make that easier:) have fun florida is wonderful I wished I
lived there!.
— bob-haller
August 1, 2007
First, congrats. Second, if you thought that this surgery was the easy in
losing the weight as you are finding out it is the maintainence that is the
hardest. Foods that we could not stand or tolerate are now easier to eat.
If we fall back into our own patterns of eating we can easily gain the
weight back. I know this is hard to take and it may not be what you want
to hear it but it is the truth. I am 24 months this month and find it hard
but it is not impossible to lose anymore weight as I lost 15 more pounds a
few months back just by returning to the "basics." It happened
when I went back to the "basics" and changed my exercise routine
that the 15 lbs just fell off. If you close your mind to what people are
saying you may be setting yourself up for failure and we are here to
support each other even though some people do not know how to say the right
things in the right way. Surgery was easy and for me Maintenance is hard.
There is not a day that goes by when I don't question why, what, and how I
am eating. Does it bother me yes and no. I am aware of what I am putting
in my mouth for the first time in years and can make the decision if I want
a bite of something I shouldn't but then can stop. So, I would not trade
it for anything.
— 1968 Loser
August 1, 2007
Thanks so much for the answers!! I just wanted to say that I am 4 months
out, had Lap RNY. Right now the weight flys off me no matter what i do. I
am just wondering typically when this stops.
Yes, I am going to Disney and it will be the first time that I will be a
thin person walking around those parks. I can't wait!
— kittyluver77
August 1, 2007
I had the Lap-Band surgery and I believe my honeymoon period lasted about 5
months. I ate what I wanted, didn't exercise, did absolutely nothing that
I was supposed to and still kept losing weight. I am almost 2 years
post-op now and I am still trying to get myself on track to act right and
start losing again. Maybe I'm the kind of response that you wanted to
hear. If I ever find my motivation, I will start everything over the right
way. Start from scratch, getting fills, no fast food, and exercising.
This is a real response from a real person. I wish you the best of luck.
— theshortzeta
August 1, 2007
Hehe I LOVE that term "Honeymoon Period" ! :-) OK, I am 5 years
and 3 months post op and I can tell you after that first year I stopped
losing. I gained back over 5 years a total of 28 lbs. This is definitely a
TOOL, NOT a LIFESTYLE once you get your appetite back and taste for sweets,
please please PLEASE heed my advice and understand you CAN gain it back. I
could not imagine that first hard and skinny year that I would EVER allow
myself to gain, or to eat goodies and be lazy, but old habits die hard. I
wish you the best. Take those extra steps now to continue losing. I
hinestly believe people stop after 1 years losing because that is when your
appetite returns and you discover all those foods you used to love, you can
eat. Good luck on your journey. Kathy In Massachussets
— Kathy A C.
August 1, 2007
My honeymoon was (of actually losing weight was about 18 months). But I
lost the most amount of weight a person possibly could and still live--I
started looking sick. Well I gained 6 pounds back which put me at a decent
weight & decent look. I maintained this weight loss for 3 years (with
no effort--ofcourse the surgery had always minimized what I ate anyway--but
I usually ate what I wanted). Then when I got pregnant I did gain about 36
pounds--lost about 28-32 but never got those last 4 pounds off. Then I
started gaining again about 4 months after giving birth.... Guess what?
Pregnant again. So now yes, I am gaining again. I am hoping that this
weight will come off after I have this 2nd baby! If it doesn't I guess I
will have to work at it. But it is hard--especially when I have been
eating rampantly while pregnant in order to get in enough to feed this
baby. But as soon as I gave birth the first time, I went right back to not
being able to eat allot, and not craving bad things (weird how your body
will allow for you to eat more while pregnant, lol)...
— GAYLE CARMACK-LYONS
August 1, 2007
In 19 mos I have lost 200lbs. Inshort I have busted my but to do it. I will
say in the begining the exercise part was HARD. I will be the first to
admitt that I hated it in the begining. Getting around well at 350lbs
wasn't the easiest let alone exercising. It did get easier and while it
isn't my favorite part of life, I keep on exercising. A word of wisdom....a
good MP3 player with peppy tunes is a lot of help, better yet is to do it
with a friend. Best wishes-Heather
— tazthewiz23
August 2, 2007
I really get sick & tired of people saying that initially the weight
loss is effortless. IT IS NOT THAT WAY FOR EVERYONE! My weight has not
FALLEN OFF. I am 4 months out and have only lost bet. 27 -32 lbs., it
varies from week to week. So Bob & Stacey - that is not true!
— bjkgriffith
August 2, 2007
18 months is the "honeymoon" period, that is when the weight loss
slows or is over then it your job to maintain the weight loss. but to have
the weight loss you want to during the 18 months you have to work it girl,
do the right things, and make the best of that period. The only perfect
person ever on this earth was hung on a cross so it doesn't pay to be too
perfect!
— DonnaB.
August 2, 2007
HI STACY
For me I had a rather long honeymoon the first 12 months I lost 120
pounds then I had a baby and never gained more then 10 pounds. The next
three months after I lost 50 more. That was were I staid for a long time
now 4 years out I fight back and forth with 35 pounds. I would like to get
off 50 more but like you I'm human. The only thing is I have this wonderful
tool that gives me the power to keep trying. And that is all we can do.
ANNA
— ANNAJEAN
August 2, 2007
Now Barbara what gives? Really, if you need some "been there"
thoughts or someone to vent to feel free to email me. [email protected]
— tazthewiz23
August 3, 2007
I am 2 years post op... and went from about 260 to 130 in about 9 months
after my WLS. About after a year after that, I found a comfortable weight
at about 142. I have had a tummy tuck, breast augmentation too last
winter. The only problems I have faced (and I am grateful) is not eating
enough protein and not working out like I should. I am slowly getting back
to going to the gym again. This is a life long battle with no easy
answers. I would say it is probably harder now getting back into the gym
and now that I can eat more than I did in the beginning, I have to keep
myself in check. I hope that helped : )
— Jenna69
August 3, 2007
I know ladys are different then men so i think the honey moon for me ended
when i moved away from my support group living in the town where my surgen
group was had a great benefit when i moved i got out of the habit of going
to the gym and eating some things that i wasnt supposed to eat and some
other bad habits i found myself gaining weight i am 3 years out this past
month i made a decission to get it together and try to find people like you
who are not purfect put are trying hard. also getting on a requlare
exercise program was the key i used to weigh 390 pounds and i lost down to
190 i now weigh 210 pounds. what really bothers me is that i think some
people who have had the surgery make it sound like its all roses. it is not
but i would do it all over again. in closing i honestly believe that 90
percent of the battle is mental so if we try to get a sound mind alot of
this will work out. and it is really cool riding roller coasters again.
— jbwormlight
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