The Honeymoon's Over...

Oh well....The honeymoon is over I am officially over my honeymoon phase of the surgery. I enjoyed the last 6 months very much but I am starting to see that the new lifestyle isn't going to be as good as I had it for the past 6 months. I am starting to feel hunger and I feel like I munch all the time. Here is what I ate today. B-fast - skinny latte Snack - protein bar Lunch - school chicken nuggets (about 7) and some fruit (about 1 cup) This is way too much food. My pouch must be freaking huge!!! Snack - package of toastchee crackers (180 cals, 6 protein) 5 small chocolate eggs (like m and m's Snack - 1 ounce of baked lays and SF caramel pudding Dinner - beef stew over rice (I'm sure it was over 4 ounces) Probably about 6 ounces! I'm so scared I'm messing everything up. I'm working out on a regular basis although I didn't go today. The scales have stalled at 160 and I'm stressed. I want to lose more than this. I will not be happy if I don't lose any more. I know we are supposed to eat 4-5 meals a day of 200 calories. I eat like 6!!! Not all of them have 200 calories. I eat when I'm not hungry. If anyone can help, please let me know..... Rachel

Please tell me what everyone means by the honeymoon phase. Love Jennifer

Jen, it's like the new-ness of something. During the first 6 months we should be loosing weight steady. After 6 months, it slows down some and we may have to battle our same 'ole eating habbits as before. At least this is how I look at it and understand it to be. I could be wrong. Deb

It also means that you aren't really hungry....you kind of forget that you need to eat and have to force yourself to get your protein in. And you can eat pretty much anything and still lose weight. Anywhere from 6 months to a year, you start feeling hunger and some of the "cheats" that you did in the first 6 months will put you on a major stall. So, enjoy the Honeymoon while you are there!!! Hugs, Dianne

Couldn't have said it better myself!!! Rachel

Rachel, maybe our pouch begns to lighten up some after 6 months. I believe if we just try to stay focused, no matter how far out we are, we will be okay. Stay away from that evil chocolate and bad carbs. Eating 6 meals a day is good (way better than I am doing) If you know you are eating too much, just try to back off some. I know it is hard to do. (I made myself sick last night eating crab leggs then Rose's Orange Stuff, I should have stopped after the crab leggs). Don't kick yourself, just do what you know to be right. You are beautiful, and you must be doing something right to get to where you are. Deb

Thanks. Rachel

hi Rachel, how are you doing on your liquids? Are you getting your water in? How about starting out your day with a protein shake and upping your water intake? Are you stress eating? Also, is this happening for you every day? Sometimes this happens to me once in a while, but its not an every day thing. Do you see your stall being longer than a week or two? Because that could be normal too. I had that happen a lot. I would lose, and then it would stop and then it would go and then stop... I know that there are plateau busters that people would post on the Main board from time to time, but I wouldnt worry yet. Most days I eat 6 small meals and sometimes more too.... I just need to always have a little nibble. I keep a can of almonds in my desk and will have 10 almonds if I am really hungry. I also want to send you a hug and a smile. I know I havent met you, but I am a friend and I care. Think of me from up in colllld brrrrr Boston... waving. I was where you were once in terms of weight and never thought i'd make it to my goal and I did! Now I hope I can stay here... and get scared all the time that I wont! Jess

Hi Jess! Yes, I'm getting in all my liquids. I don't know if I could stomach a protein shake. I hated them when I HAD to drink them. No, I don't think I am stress eating and my stall has lasted about 1 week. Thanks for sharing the information about what you eat. That is helpful to see someone out farther that eats 6 meals a day. Thanks for being so friendly. I'll think about you in Boston when I am sitting outside today in the 70 degree weather!!! Thanks again. Rachel

Girl, you should thrilled about weighing 160, I wish I was even close to that. I do know what you mean about the eating thing, I can eat more than 4 ounces and always have been able to since the start. I just try to be careful what I eat and how much. Lately I have been getting nauseous when I eat more than I should, plus I have had a stomach bug for the past two days and haven't eaten much at all, maybe twice a day. I worry every day that my pouch is stretched, but if it is, then it has been this way since surgery. I'm still losing so slow, going 2-3 weeks without losing a thing, then I drop a couple of pounds and it stalls again. But, my clothes continue to get loose, so that is the only way I can tell I'm still losing fat. I have been so down about it ,as you know, but it doesn't seem to matter what I do, my body does not change the way it loses weight. It has been like this any time I have dieted in the past and apparently the surgery is no different, other than after the stalls, the weight still drops instead of going up. We both need to just hang in there and stop letting this crap get to us, as hard as it is to do. I'm tired of worrying myself over it, if it takes a year or more to come off then so be it. Take care! Mary