7 mos out - honeymoon's nearly over

I thought this forum would be the most appropriate place to post for some advice, since most of you have been down this same road before at some point. I'm noticing now that I'm nearly in month #7 that my "honeymoon" phase with the surgery is beginning to fade a bit.  Not really a rant or a complaint so much as a wanting to know how people made the mental "switch" when they noticed their "honeymoon" was fading as well. Positives:   1.  I can now move and exercise like I haven't been able to do in years, and my motivation to keep it going is getting better each and every week.   2.  My weight loss continues to be steady - my pattern is that the scale won't move for 3 weeks, then budge in the last week - I'm averaging between 12-17 lbs./month and I'm thrilled with that. Things I'm now becoming aware of: 1.  I can comfortably eat more than I did in the early stages - and that's perfectly normal, I'm not stressed about it.  But with that, I'm noticing sometimes I still add another bite or two of food, thinking I still "need" to "feel" the fullness.  Not at every meal, but enough that I stop and ask myself "what are you doing?" lol 2.  Snacking - never felt hungry between my three meals before until the last month or so - now I'm noticing that I'm having trouble figuring out the difference between true hunger and rote, mechanical "I could use a snack" head hunger. My new approach: 1.  It's time to finally get the mental part of the comittment working, whereas before it had kind of been on auto-pilot.  I'm going to begin journaling my intake - didn't "need' to do it before. 2.  Let the exercise motivation become my new focus - so many worlds yet to explore now that I simply "can" exercise. 3.  Rely on resources I had known I would need to seek out before surgery - talking with the psychologist, etc.  For me, my Christian faith is a big resource, I plan to explore a weight loss support group in my town that's Christian-focused. Anyone have any thoughts to share about having reached this point, where you're noticing things aren't so much on "auto-pilot" anymore? Thanks in advance for any/all responses!

Some suggestions would be: Snacking:  If a full glass of water and 30 minutes does not curb the hunger, it is probably true hunger.  Also, if you want a protein-forward snack, it is most likely true hunger.  If it is something else that you crave/desire...eh, forget it.  LOL  :-) I've never stopped journaling (or measuring)...you would not believe JUST how many calories add up from eyeballing food and guest-imating your food intake.  *wink*  www.fitday.com is a wonderful (free) tool to use.  I also recommend www.thinnerself.com to keep track of how you are doing, as well. Also, hunger happens...and, right about this time-frame, too.  The trick is to determine whether or not it is 'true' hunger.  Kudos to you for grasping that concept!  :-) ~~Sherry

The research says that it lasts up to 18 months, then the body finds a new way to re-route the food and absorb more of what we eat.  So increasing one's intake "a bite or two" is probably not going to be a good thing down the road.  I journal every single day.  I have journaled for years to come to terms with physical/sexual abuse issues and it served me very well.  It's been hard getting back into the habit of journaling but I bought a program online and since I spent $40. on it, I am more determined to get my moneys worth out of it:-)  Plus I find it helpful in tracking behavior/eating patterns.  The thing is, coming to terms with the mental aspect of why we find comfort in food is something that folks work years on sometimes.  So I would not wait to start working on your issues.  My advice to you would be to start logging in what you're eating/drinking and be sure that your caloric/carb intake is such that you will continue to lose weight.  If you stall out then you know you need to increase your physical activity each day.  I'm 14 months out and I'm losing steady, about 5 lbs a month, I slowed down around the holidays.  I've lost from 350 to 188 in these 14 months.  And I'm fixing to have a breast reduction/partial tummy tuck on Monday which will remove alittle more weight in the form of saggy skin:-)  Anyways, good luck to you in your endevors:-) Carol J

Hello and congratualtions on all the wonderful changes you've made and the success you've had.  I'm 14 months out today and can tell you that 7 months was exactly when I started to experience what you are experiencing and found that it really was up to me to keep things going in the right direction.  It was at that point I really did believe that WLS was a tool.  Even though I knew that from the get-go, this was when I started to believe it! I've lost 106 pounds and at my recent appt with my surgeon he was thrilled.  He's been a kind and supportive Dr that never looks at the pounds lost but my BMI.  I 've slowed right down and am a ways from my goal.  I'm at 171 pounds and would like to get to 145.  The weight is really slow to come off now and for a while I struggled with that.  Lately I've learned to allow myself to feel good mentally because I feel so good physically.  I exercise regualrly now and while I'm not perfect with my eating I try hard to make the right choices everyday. I just wanted you to know that you are not alone in what you are experiencing.  Stick around here- I think this website has been the best thing for me and I only discovered it a couple months ago.  When I come here I realize my journey is being shared by so many, I am so inspired by the individuals here and it helps me to realize that I can keep going (even if slowly). Best of luck toy ou! Kara