Honeymoon Period...

[PEvette 297]

I'm still pre-op....surgery date 6/11/12....but I had another question....

How long did your, what I've heard other people call, the honeymoon period last?

Just curious...

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

I don't believe that there is a honey moon period. I believe that we are able to work our sleeve and lose weight.

In the beginning, we had a tendency to loose at a llittle faster rate due to very low calorie intake. Our stomachs are so swollen.

Can't wait until you join us on the BIG LOSER'S BENCH!

[Indymom 132]

The most rapid weight loss is in the first 2-3 months (very limited diet and capacity). However, I feel like I am continuing to lose at a very steady rate even at almost 7 months out. At this point I'm not worried about getting to goal - I will be there hopefully by mid-summer. I'm more nervous about maintenance and a few years out . . . I'm sure that it's easy to lose focus and the pounds creep back on.

[former_vbg 198]

Well, you will see with the more posts you read that there definately is a honeymoon period. It varies somewhat for each person, but in general, expect to see your weight loss drop off anywhere from 3 to 6 months. It kind of depends on what your starting weight is and how closely you follow the recommended eating plans. If you have a higher starting weight and you stay on plan, you will likely have a little longer honeymoon period.

There are some people who struggle with staying away from poor food choices early on and it will affect weight loss. I know someone personally who actually had surgery the same day as me and approximately the same starting weight as me (see my signature/ ticker line) and I think she may be down about 50# but I also know she has not been following the guidelines consistently- yet she struggles to understand why she hasn't lost more weight. She complains about all the bad temptations around her, why she can't do this or do that... I have tried to remain a support person in her life, but she has started to pull back in the last month or so which I attribute to the fact that I am just a reminder of how much she hasn't lost.

It's ok to be a "slow looser", but if its because we aren't compliant with the guidelines, then we do jeopardize our long term success.

[former_vbg 198]

Just read this thread, you might take a look. But, you will find many others similar to it where people talk about the challenges they have once they get out from surgery a few months or longer.

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/28956-i-need-to-get-back-on-track/

[Foxbins 625]

I'm at goal, but I believe that if I wanted or needed to lose more weight I could. I don't believe there's a honeymoon period; there is a time when you can't eat or drink much so the calories you consume are limited, and there is a time when your resting metabolism equals your caloric intake and you won't lose anymore. In between, I believe, I quite a long period of time, certainly more than a year, depending on how much you have to lose. I would say that to achieve success, we need to relearn how to eat, to view food as fuel, and to find other ways of managing out emotions besides eating.

[M2G 1,836]

Well I used to not believe in the "honeymoon period" but I am a big believer now.

Not in a bad way, but here is what happened for me personally. This is *just my* experience, yours maybe different

I lost about -46lbs during the first 3 months post-op. Then I hit a wall. Month 4 I lost -2lbs for the whole month and it has been somewhat of a struggle ever since. I say struggle just because you might secretly be thinking that at 4 months post-op I changed something (downed MCD's or ate ice cream or quit working out) but quite the opposite was true. I worked my sleeve diligently every day, ate the right foods, weighed and measured, and tracked my food, and got to the point at about 8 months post-op that I was working out every single day. So it's not like I fell off the wagon and then bellyached about why I couldn't lose weight. I finally accepted that the honeymoon (again for ME) was over and I was just going to have to ride this out with diligence and patience.

I'm closing in on 17 months post-op and guess what? I still exercise (not daily anymore...went back to work full-time and found myself with a whole lot less free time) I still weigh my food, still track it, still eat on my surgeon's plan about 90% of the time. I also didn't have any (ZERO, ZIP, NADA) alcohol until I was 1 year post-op (1 year and 1 week to be exact, Halloween party woo hoo, I had some wine...such a boozer, lol!) So I guess you could say I was a rule-follower and it is still taking me a looooooong time to lose the weight.

So take it for what it's worth. I think the more you can lose right after surgery the better off you are cuz at some point it's going to slow down. WHEN is really hard to say, because it's obviously different for everyone. As far out as I am, I'm still losing...just very very slowly.

[Papa Jack 86]

Do what you can for 6 months. It will start to slow down after the honeymoon period. But you will still be happy.

[doggz109 41]

There is no honeymoon period. What happens is people are GUNG HO about the surgery for 3-6 months post op and then slowly return to their old habits and wonder why their weight loss slows.

There is also the issue that as you lose weight.....the amount of calories you need goes down as well. If people don't make that adjustment....their loss will slow or stall.

Be consistent in your efforts and switch up your routine.