Question:
What is the honeymoon period that many post-op patients talk about?

   — tkcdeck (posted on June 22, 2007)

June 22, 2007
It's the year after you have the surgery. Most lose weight whether they exercise or not. Some lose it the fastest during this year. It's also the time most try to lose ALL of their excess weight and meet their goal. It all depends on how you want to look at it. It can also be a combo of all of the afore mentioned...
   — crystalsno

June 22, 2007
The honeymoon period is the time when you are losing steadily and have less of an appetite and no cravings for the foods you used to like. For some it lasts as little as 6 months and others could be 18 months. I am at 7 1/2 months and still doing well although I am almost at goal. The key is to get most or all of your weight off in the honeymoon period so that you can go on a maintenance program and excercise regularly so that you can remain thin.
   — Sheri A.

June 22, 2007
Hi Treva, thanks for asking your question. I loved the honeymoon period. Your body is so very willing to help you lose the weight, and if you treat it like a honeymoon and put your best foot forward, even if you make little mistakes, the results can be so great. The honeymoon period is anywhere from 6 months to 18 months post surgery. It is the delightful time when your body will be more consistent in losing the weight and for many it is the biggest weight loss of their wls travels. It is a really important time and it is vital that you take advantage of it while you have it. If you do, here is the bonus, you lose weight, you will be motivated to continue to lose weight, and you learn wonderful habits that stay with you while you keep running to the thrift shop to get those smaller clothes because you just can't keep up with the size dropping. You are eating protein, finding ways to get it all in, you are drinking water, even though you miss the other things you used to drink, you are exercising, some twice a day and your metabolism is just taking hit after hit and making change after change. It really works. Here is what happens if you don't take full advantage of your honeymoon period. You begin to stall, you get discouraged and quit or never start exercising. You think it is ok to drink soda and caffine and perhaps indulge in other practices you had prior to surgery that you said you would not do. You lose some weight, but you want more, but won't work for it. You think it should come off automatically because although you know wls surgery is not a miracle, you are just not gonna exercise. You never liked to exercise anway, and know that you are doing ok and survived the surgery, you just never got started. You will eventually gain a lot of your weight back and wonder why you had surgery to begin with. I have seen it over and over. Take the honeymoon period and run with it, and be sure you have a healthy form of exercise and do it up to 6 days a week. Drink all the water you can and fight for changes in your diet and lifestyle. These things will be so important when the honeymoon period is over, and it becomes just diet and exercise. You have to train yourself when the times are good for the tougher times to come. I started walking 2 weeks post op, and in a matter of a week I was walking 2 miles a day. A few months later, I was up to 2 1/2 miles twice a day every day. I did that for over a year, and I am 3 years out now and still maintaining my weight loss. I haven't walked 5 miles a day in a long time, and had some other surgeries that prevented me from exercise for a time. But I never gained weight. My metabolism learned how to function and those tough lessons learned during the honeymoon period really helped me a lot. You have to fight for your weight loss, surgery or not, it is a battle, both in the brain and in the body. So fight girl, you are worth it, and your health is certainly worth it! Best to you. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

June 23, 2007
Thank you all for your anwer to my question. I am so glad to finally know what the honeymoon period is and like you have advised I will use it to my advantage. I have learned so much on this particular web site and appreciate everyone's help. It has been a blessing to lose weight and feel better. Thanks again for your input. I've lost 89 in 3 and half months and I know I will lose the rest of my weight. Honeymoon here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   — tkcdeck