Question:
lets talk about the honeymoon period...

i have been reading with interest the honeymoon period where by we can eat anything and lose the weight rapidly.. this apparently wanes at 6 months.. is this because the stoumach stretches at 6 months and you can eat more or is it because at 6 months you are feeling more able to eat as you arent feeling so ill to your stoumach as you were in the beginning stages.. if you dont have a appetite at 6 months or carry on eating as little as you you do in the honeymoon phase can you extend the weightloss for a while longer or does the 6 month period cut in and thats that... just intersested as i have little appatite at 3 1/2 months and am losing rapidly and want to extend it for as long as possible... thanks....rach...nz    — Rachel F. (posted on February 24, 2002)

February 24, 2002
From what my Dr and nurse told me it's like this; after the surgery you can sit like a lump and eat poor choices and you will still lose weight because the eating is so restricted. Or you can take advantage of this *honeymoon* period and lose more weight, make friends with food and learn how to deal with making good choices, get an exercise plan going etc, so when this initial period is over and the pouch stretches and your metabolism is getting used to being on restricted calories and the weight loss slows you can still lose weight. Losing beyond the honeymoon period, losing beyond the 80% of excess weight that is considered a success medically (for example, if you have excess weight of 100 lbs and you lose 80 it's considered a success by surgical and nih standards) you have to work for it. Work for it by exercising, by not getting sloppy in eating habits and letting those old habits creep back in, by making good food choices most of the time (note I said most). I'm not saying don't be human, but eat like normal people eat. If it's your birthday or christmas treat yourself, but every day isn't an excuse to splurge. Get into the good habits during your honeymoon period, and they will carry you through the rest of the wls marriage:) Good luck!
   — Becky K.

February 24, 2002
There are LOTS of components. Some have stretched their pouch by that time. We are coached to keep our pouches at fresh post-op size til goal wt. Some are taught to get as much food as possible in as quickly as possible. There is the "I got away with it and still lost weight" syndrome, too. AND of course, we get the rocket start up front, and start stair stepping down ever after, with the steps becoming a little longer, the drop becoming proportionally less as time goes on, which is normal, no matter which surgery or post-op plan you follow. Since you are preserving your pouch size now, you don't have to increase it until you want to stabilize, and of course, as you feel better, you are drinking more protein shakes & ever more water, so all of that helps keeps your momentum going.
   — vitalady

February 24, 2002
Another part of weight loss for ANYONE who loses weight is that the smaller you get, the less calories you need. So, weight loss would slow down even if your metabolism stayed constant.
   — Julie S.

February 24, 2002
thank you for asking that question and all those who responded. I am at the six month mark and have another 30lbs to go. I have been at a plateau for two months, essentially. It is scary to have an appetite again, so really pay attention to your consumption and TOTALLY avoid sweets during the honeymoon. Keep it going as long as possible. I started 'tasting' again at four months, even when I wasn;t really tempted. BAD MOVE. Eat protein, then green vegetables. very careful with fresh fruit and breads. and candy, cake and chocolate-- if you aren't yet craving it, swear it off. Don;t help yourself screw it up. Good luck.
   — michelle R.

February 25, 2002
My suggestion would be to go to the gallery page on this website, and type rules of the pouch in the search box. I did this, and found where a previous poster had posted the rules of the pouch, and it tells you exactly how you can use the pouch as your tool throughout the whole surgery, and how you can keep your weightloss consistent throughout. Good Luck!
   — tjmoore