Question:
What is this phase people keep calling the honeymoon phase?
Is it real and does it happen to everyone? — maureen (posted on April 22, 2003)
April 22, 2003
The only time I heard that term was when they were referring to the first
18 months post-op. It is the period where you will lose the most weight,
so basically, doctors tell you to take advantage of the
"honeymoon" phase since it will be the easiest time to lose
weight (assuming you follow your diet plans!)...most people stabilize
around 18 months ***Amy - LAP RNY 04-09-03, -16 pounds
— Amy A.
April 22, 2003
They call it the honeymoon phase because it is the time in your life when
everything seems perfect and some realities haven't hit yet. Like if you
marry someone that you haven't dated for a long time, it's the honeymoon
phase because you think you are so in love and you are both on your best,
sweetest behavior, then after six months or a year goes by, you start
seeing the "real each other", the real person who farts,
scratches, eats peanut butter with sardines, etc. That's when the
honeymoon phase is over adn reality sets in and people let their guard
down! In realtion to wls, it's when for the first 6 months to a year you
are dropping weight, people are complimenting you, you're buying new
clothes, having more energy and adjusting to a great new lifestyle. Then
the 'reality' of plateaus, no more buffets, no more cakes and candy,
hanging skin, etc sets in. It's one trade for another -- I'll take some
hanging skin over being obese any day!
— beeda
April 22, 2003
The first poster is wrong. The first SIX MONTHS is the Honeymoon period.
During the first six months you will lose fast! You pretty much can eat
whatever you want and you will lose. After six months the loss slows
greatly.
— Danmark
April 22, 2003
The honeymoon period is the first six months where you will lose weight
pretty much no matter what you do. Many people don't have much of an
appetite during this phase. This is the "easiest" part of the
weight loss. Doctors recommend that you optimize this time by re-learning
how to eat and changing those old habits. Plus, the weight will never come
off this quickly again, so the closer you stick to the rules, the faster it
will come off, and the closer you will be to goal when your appetite
finally does come back. Sometimes people don't use this time to relearn
their eating habits since the weight comes off so easily. Then, after the
honeymoon period when the real work begins, it's much harder to change
those bad habits! (I can vouch for this unfortunantly).
— mom2jtx3
April 22, 2003
I was told the honeymoon period was18 months because this is time that
everything you eat is not being absorbed. You do however lose more the 1st
6 months because of water weight loss and the small amount you are able to
eat. As you can eat more and want more it slows down. The rule of thumb I
was given was 1/2 of what you are going to lose the 1st 6 months, 1/2 of
the 1st 6 months the 2nd 6 months and 1/2 of the 2nd 6 months the last 6
months. You can still lose after that but it will really take efford. Now
for the disclaimer, everyone is different and loses at different rates. So
the bottom line is mind your P's and Q's and hope for the best. Good luck.
— Cookie G.
April 22, 2003
The version I've heard is that the first 6 months is the honeymoon period
because, as everyone else says, that's the easiest time to drop the most
weight. The 18 month period is what is commonly referred to as "the
window of opportunity." The thinking is that after 18 months you
should be at goal, ready to maintain, your body should be adjusted to your
new weight. That's a good reason they say to wait 2 years before getting
pregnant! - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -123lbs.
— Anna L.
April 22, 2003
The first SIX MONTHs is the so-called honeymoon p[eriod because of the way
you drop weight so fast and easily. 18 months is the "window of
opportunity" This is when your "tool" is still working for
you and you have to work it also. Thw weight loss is slower than in the
first six months.
— Delores S.
April 22, 2003
My Honeymoon phase lasted exactly 6 months. Since then it has been an
adventure in steady long and I do mean long horrendous plateau after
plateau. Make no mistake this surgery is a tool and nothing more. If you
had food addictions before surgery, you will be dealing with those same
monsters after your hunger returns and you are slowly able to eat more and
find your way to snacking. This is where I am at, no where near goal and
not able to control my habits. Take this surgery very seriously, not every
one receives the gift of severe dumping that is the fail safe measure that
is suppose to keep you away from carbs, cookies, candy, sugars. I can eat
them all. I am making no excuses. I am just being bluntly honest about
what I am going through. The honeymoon is definetly over, and
unfortunately there is no quickie divorce allowed here...lol. I just have
to keep trying to make this work. I am 14 months post op, if 18 months is
the extent of the window of opportunity I am never gonna make it.
— SARose61
April 22, 2003
You body is a wonderfully adaptive organism. The absorption will increase
as time goes on as the intestines attached to the pouch grows more villi
and thus adapts to the bypass. This also explains why we can eat more
sugar/fat as time goes on... our bodies are adapting and getting more
efficient with the tools it has to use. To our bodies it is all a matter
of survivial.
<p> Take Care, Be Well, Be Happy!
— John T.
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