Winter is Coming - when did you realize the honeymoon phase was over?

Thanks! I know for me, mistakes are inevitable. I am a learn things the hard way sort of person. As much as I wish I wasn't, I know how I am. In my short 6 months after surgery I have gone from being ashamed of them to feeling good that I can actually admit to them and hold myself accountable. If we don't hold ourselves accountable we can't see what we have done wrong. I am not just learning to love this way with food, but with everything and I feel so much happier.

Embrace your future as the challenge of your life. Lordy I was in your same place completely unsure whether I could rise to the challenge! But I have found out about my ability and strength just taking things one day one step at a time. And here I am 7 years later to tell the tale.

I will attest to the fact there is no magic. Biggest challenge of my life. Also the most worthwhile.

You have done amazing! I agree so much that there is no magic. Whether you are 6 months out or 7 years out. Even with brand new restriction you can fill yourself up with terrible foods and never learn how to live well.

THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to respond!

I know my post was a big turn off for many because it read as melodramatic and or extremely negative, but it was in response to the very dramatic and negative warnings I and other newbs have been given by veterans who are otherwise not negative or dramatic here on OH.

Winter is Coming: In the fictional lands of Game of Thrones, there is this impending disaster that is building in the North, the tribe that lives there has a motto "Winter is Coming" to remind themselves that there is always a life struggle on the horizon and you must always be prepared for it. It's not that they are without joy or laughter, it's that they can not afford to grow complacent. It seemed like the perfect metaphor to apply to the weight loss phase here. Thus the rather dramatic tone was mostly just a tongue-in-cheek metaphor and to those who are concerned, I haven't been literally sleeping with a flashlight either

I knew before WLS that maintenance was the key and that failure is real and happens if you lose your focus.

After reading so many warnings about how short the weight loss phase is and how arduous the maintenance will be I started to worry about that maintenance might be far worse than anything I've faced so far in my decade long weight loss odyssey...

I posted this question to help myself and other newbs, better understand the upcoming challenges. While the title and tone was mostly tongue-in-cheek, I want to be clear that there is NOTHING more important for me in this process than assuring my long term weight loss success. Part of the behaviors others see as signs that I'm not worth talking to, are things I'm trying in an effort to build a long term sustainable life that is both active and healthy. That's why I haven't totally cut out alcohol which is probably my riskiest move. I don't want to have something to "go back to" when I think I'm safe. I want THIS to be my "go back to" I want my life to be full and enjoyable rather than straight edge and austere.

To safeguard my new healthy life from the chaos that lies beyond (the wall), I need to understand what I'm actually up against. I need to be training every single day using the most effective weapons I can find (like obsidian arrowheads), I need to enlist the right specialists (witches and worgs?) who can coach and advise me and I need to have some early warning systems in place so that I can mobilize my responses at the first alert and not AFTER the damage has been done.

Right now my weapons and training include the following:

• Weigh, measure, record every calorie I consume
• Limit liquids to 30 minutes before or after meals
• Eat a protein based diet, eat protein first
• Eliminate simple carbs from daily menu
• Incorporate exercise into my daily activities (bike to work, walk to the grocery etc.)
• Take medications and vitamins/supplements as directed
• Minimize empty calories to single servings once or twice a week (we're talking about my red wine)
• Commit to short term sport goals (5K this fall, half marathon next spring)
• Put money down on long term goals with fitness requirements (Hiking in Tuscany fall 2018)
• Acquire a dog for a walking/running partner (puppy arrives Oct 2017!)

My specialists include the following:

• Obesity Help forums
• Bariatric Center of Excellence medical team
• Primary Care Physician
• Friends and Family support system

My early warning alert includes the following:

• 2/week weigh-ins
• clothing fit
• Run/swim/bike times

Winter is indeed coming, but if I'm ready it will just show up as life. After winter comes, and I survive it... winter will still be coming, and I'll still be vigilant. I'm OK with that.