The next 6 months

There have been so many good things happening to us over the past month as we have celebrated our successes since we've each had surgery. 6 months is a short time to lose so much weight. I'm pleased with my loss and excited to hear about all of your losses. I'm concerned about the honeymoon being over and weight loss slowing and getting back to my old habits. Anyone else having troubling thoughts?

Hi Denise I know exactly what you mean. I have been so excited over my loss, but now that I am over 6 months out I am terrified of how it is going to go. My surgeon says it is of course natural to slow down, his wife, one of the nurses says that you just have to bump up the exercise more & be extremely careful about your protein and make sure you aren't getting any empty calories. None the less I am still worried, but hopefully our worries will be alleviated in 6 months when the scale is down even more Good luck with the rest of your journey. God Bless Angel 113 lb since surgery / 163 total since preparing for surgery

Denise, Many people continue losing for 18 months after WLS. Just continue to follow the rules and the weight loss will continue if you need it too. My only problem recently is carbs. We are living out of a hotel for 2 weeks while relocating to AZ (we are there now) so eating the right amount of things is proving a bit difficult. We should be in our rental home by Weds and then within a couple of days things should return to a good normal PLUS I will have a pool right around the corner which will be great. Can't wait. Mary

Great Topic Denise! Yup, I'm worried too. Although I am also pleased with how I've done so far, my doctor made sure he reminded me that what I do from here on out is entirely up to me. The weight loss slows way down so at this point I CHOOSE what I eat, and I CHOOSE how much I exercise. What a way to make sure I know that it's all in my hands now! He's done his job, now it's up to me to do mine. He made it very clear that what I do and where I end up from here on out is my own doing. I do find that sometimes if I want something, I eat it whether I need it or not. I have to literally ask myself why I want it or whether or not something else will satisfy the urge. I'm not able to do that all the time, but I try to make a conscious effort about what I put in my mouth. I do find that it's easier to do better when I've decided what I'm going to eat for dinner early in the day, and then I make enough so I have leftovers from dinner for lunch the next day. It's still a day by day experience. I have to remind myself that maintaining these good habits I've developed is an absolute necessity if I want to remain healthy. Linn

Does the honeymoon period mean that we loose without trying? I really haven't been cognizant of my eating since surgery other than not getting over full. I have managed to loose 63 lbs, but it has been just barely coming off the last two months. Will my weight continue to come off, or is this the time that I'll have to work to even get those measly 2 to 3lbs off each month? Sigh.... You do make some very good and valid points. I still find myself drawn to carbs instead of protien. I would rather have a small bowl of pasta than look at another piece of string cheese, or piece of deli meat. Gag on the idea of a protien drink, and forget the protien bars. I never did those. I wake up every morning saying "I'm going to do all protien today". I have some nectar samples that I haven't even tried yet. What is it going to take to shake me up? I seem to be totally complacent with my loss so far, but should be doing more... I guess my biggest fear right now, is not making *goal* and eating when I'm not hungry. My food moves through my pouch pretty quickly now. I have to consciously make myself not eat. I do want to snack most nights, but I usually eat my pistachio's. I am addicted to them, and just about freak if I don't have any in the house. I hope they aren't too bad for me other than the salt. Good luck to us all, it looks like the next 6 months will be harder. Hugs, Debbie -63

Definitely having the same issues as everyone - - I have had some serious conversations with myself as to whether I'm really hungry, or do I just want something - - sometimes I am successful by getting something to drink instead and sometimes I just give in to it and have something. When I do give in, I do try and eat something with protein, but not always successful with that either. Most of my "cravings" come at night, so I think I have to work on doing something else for myself then (like lurking/posting on this board ). I do worry about not being able to take off the last 55 pounds to get to my goal (have lost 88 pounds so far, at almost 7 months out), especially now, as I'm on a long plateau. As I understand it from longer term post ops, though, what we're feeling is normal, that we just need to continue to do what we did the first six months and not revive or develop new bad habits. Easier said than done, though -- I keep trying!!

Hi all! My weight loss has been very slow the last few months as well, and I know it is because of what I have been choosing to eat. As some of you, I am sick of protein and have been eating more carbs, and got back into the old habit of grazing. This has scared the heck out of me, because I know if I continue in this way not only will I not lose, but I could gain! I have come too far and worked too hard to let this happen, so I have been making better choices; less grazing & carbs and more protein and water. Also posting on my home web-site more and I have dropped 4 lbs. in a week! I am also checking into a bunch of us from my site doing a group counseling thing with a psychologist who did many of our psych evals. I think I would benefit from this as there are psychological issues to the eating habits that got me to where I was in the first place. I'm grateful that there are sites like this to enable us to support each other on being successful on our journeys! Hang in there...it will get better as we continue to help and support each other.

Darlene, I wanted to respond to your post because you are the only other person I have seen with the Feb 10th surgery date. My loss has also been at a standstill for the past 2 months. Its like my weight loss has been on vacation or something. Well I for one am thinking about starting at the beginning again. I have not been eating incorrectly or too much but I am very bad about liquids. I hardly drink anything all day. Today I made a concious effort to drink more water and also iced tea than I have in months. I spent a lot of time in the potty today. Any other tricks fron anyone would be greatly apprciated. Fondly, Elaine