Question:
window of oppurtunity / time frame of losing

yes i was wanting to know if when is a time that the weight loss will just stop ? i wanted to hear from people post op who have experienced it , and generaly when does it occur ? i heard you have 12-16 months of losing then it basicly stops what are your experiences ?    — angela J. (posted on October 25, 2003)

October 25, 2003
I was a year out at the end of July. Although my weight loss hasn't completely stopped, it has been so slow I can hardly tell it's coming off anymore. In my case that window of opportunity holds true. My window was 6 months. The weight just fell off during that time. Now I have to "earn" every pound. But everyone is different so I can imagine it really depends on you personally. I hope I answered your question. Good luck! :o)
   — Laurel C.

October 25, 2003
OK, here's my advice, you're not gonna like it. After your "window" (12-18 mos usually) You're going to have to diet again. I lost 160 lbs. in 18 mos. I re-gained 12 lbs. (under th 10% that is expected with an RNY). I diet now. Although I only eat about 1500 cals a day now. If I want to be thinner, I have to diet. Just like regular people. I want to loose `12 lbs. I have been eating protien, staying away from carbs, etc. I know the weight will come back if I don't stick to this diet. This is the dirty little secret no one tells you. I only have 12 lbs to loose now, not 160. So it was worth it. You can't eat like you have all your life. You really did eat too much. It's not all metobolic (although we are genetically predisposed). Them are the facts, please feel free to email me if you want. -- me.
   — sandieguy

October 25, 2003
Sandie is right. It is work to lose and keep it off. I lost 108 pounds by six months. Then it was 137 for my one year wls anniversary.
   — Danmark

October 25, 2003
I hit the button by mistake. (I've never done that before). It took me a WHOLE YEAR to lose ONLY another 18 pounds for my second anniversary. Total lost was 160 lbs but I gainned 5 back and it stabalized there. I have'nt been able to lose weight since the 2 years but I lost my favorite pet a couple weeks ago and I did'nt want to eat. Now I lost more weight. I started at 319 and now I'm 156. Thankfully it is staying there. Anywho, I SHOULD HAVE NOT TAKEN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS FOR GRANTED! I probally could have lost another 20-30 then (and been to goal by now). I'd like to weigh 129 or 130 as I'm short. Anyway, my window pretty much stopped at 12 months. Yours may not. But don't be stupid as I was and take the first six months for granted. There will NEVER be a better time to lose. Best of luck to you. Dan
   — Danmark

October 25, 2003
This is a great question because it should be emphasized again and again that this is not an open ended thing and that we should take full advantage of those first 6-12 months and lose as much as humanly possible. I think that so many people are under the guise that this lasts forever and it just doesn't. I am only 9+ months out and have lost 115+ pounds but lost 98 of those in the first 6 months. Now it is much harder work or at least a lot slower weight loss. I lost 3 pounds in the past month. I am also of the opinion that you can prolong your window by not stretching your pouch early on. If you only eat 2 ounces at a time for that first year how can you stretch your pouch? I have found that measuring my food helps with that one. I definitely eat more often now but it is still all protein and small amounts. I really just want to get to my goal before that window closes up.
   — Carol S.