Use Your First Six Months Wisely

[june13sleever 223]

We all are fat right. That is why we had or are having the surgery. It has been impossible for us to lose it on our own. Sure if we could all take a year off from life and go on the biggest loser we would be able to, but who really has that luxury. So we get the surgery. Yay for us! I am so glad I got the freaking surgery.

So when you get to one year out and can eat like a semi-normal person you will not be able to lose it on your own - If you can't do it now, you won't be able to do it in a year from now. Eventually you will be able to consume enough calories and stop losing and it will be a struggle to lose the rest...IF YOU EVER DO.

So you have this window of opportunity. For me it was a good year, but for a lot of people it might only be six months and some of the lucky ones will have it forever. BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR "FOOD" LIFE WILL BE LIKE IN SIX MONTHS, A YEAR OR FOREVER, but you do know you have the six months! That is six months to basically allow your body to survive off of all of your stored goodness, fatty cells. You basically could just drink Water and eat very little and be fine. So do that! I really ate 500 calories the first six months, and I didn't eat much on the weekends. I wasn't hungry, and I didn't like food because it made me feel all yucky.

My good fortune lasted me a year and two months, but I am done losing now.

I am really sad when I hear people say that they are struggling to get the weight off after a year. They still have 60 more to lose. That window is closed and the only way they will lose weight is through diet and working out and a lot of it. To get that weight off they might have to work out 3 hours a day and do all the impossible things that were a struggle to do in the first place which is why we had surgery.

Use the first six months wisely...make them count. If you are stalling then eat nothing. I am serious. Drink Water and cut your calories in 1/2. Work out for like 4 hours. You don't know how much time you will have. So for the first six months push yourself harder than you ever have. It is just six months and you have this excellent tool to help you.

[TheNewSusie 471]

I agree you have to try your best the first 6 months to a year and change ur life around, but IMO, you do not need to work out four hours a day. 1-2 hours is plenty, and if u do things right, your body will still burn afterwards, after an hour or two or working out, your still kinda wasting ur time, because ur body can only do so much and u really don't want to over exhaust ur body. Keep ur calories low, carbs and fats low, and drink that Water, it will pay off whether u lose fast or slow.

[swizzly 901]

My experience doesn't sound much like yours at all. I never did 500 calories -- got up to 1000+ as soon as I could, and ate at least 1000 cals per day from like six weeks post-op. After a few months it was 1200-1500, and now it's 1500-2000. I've lost just fine, and worked out not at all the first nine months, then started going to the gym three times a week. But multiple-hour workouts are not really necessary IMO. I'm almost two years out now and still losing slowly here and there, not with some huge extra effort or anything. I think the honeymoon period is a 'thing' but after the honeymoon you're still married as it were.

[swizzly 901]

Oops, double post

[kaysonsmom 59]

My physical therapist said that the closer you get to goal in the first 6 months the more likely you are to maintain in the long run. I met with my surgeon on Wednesday for my 3 month check up. He said the way Im losing I should be to goal at 6 months. In February I was 262, I was sleeved July 12 and was 241. Im now about 190 and my goal is 150. Surgeons goal is between 150-170.

[COnative 192]

I just wanted to say that I really really like everyone's post here. Thanks for sharing!!!!

[Goodgonebad 38]

I have to chime in on this post. I am only a month out today however I stalled 3 times and the only way to break my stalls was to increase my calories. Sounds strange but thats what worked for me.

[LezzieLez 180]

I was just talking to someone very close to me about this topic last night. I already started being active and cut out on fast foods (except for my emotional run to Mickey D's a few days ago). I started some strength training on my own and cannot wait to have my surgery.

Even though I don't completely agree with the initial posting, I do understand that the first few months are the most critical for our weight loss goals and I will take advantage of it.

Thanks for the advice!

[GeauxForIt 659]

Work out four hours a day?! That's hilarious. And ridiculous.

Yes, take advantage of the do-called "Honeymoon Period" to make healthy, PERMANENT changes. Going to extremes is what got us all here. And going to new extremes will not serve us well either.

Be aggressive, but be smart, too.

[Jen35 283]

I was just talking to someone very close to me about this topic last night. I already started being active and cut out on fast foods (except for my emotional run to Mickey D's a few days ago). I started some strength training on my own and cannot wait to have my surgery.

Even though I don't completely agree with the initial posting, I do understand that the first few months are the most critical for our weight loss goals and I will take advantage of it.

Thanks for the advice!

I agree. I'm pre-op but I'm making some changes now. I plan to use this tool to the fullest to permanently change my bad habits once and for all.

[TheNewSusie 471]

Work out four hours a day?! That's hilarious. And ridiculous.

Yes' date=' take advantage of the do-called "Honeymoon Period" to make healthy, PERMANENT changes. Going to extremes is what got us all here. And going to new extremes will not serve us well either.

Be aggressive, but be smart, too.[/quote']

Lol funny isn't it? Four hours! Lol

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I agree with your larger point that the honeymoon period is real and that you do yourself a favor by losing as much as you can - preop combined with the honeymoon period. I have lost about 120#. I plan to have a total loss of about 130# by the time I get to my one year anniversary Dec 12th.

I lost about 95# of them by my 6 month anniversary. It has taken me nearly 5 months to lose the next 25 as there was a long stall built in there but I have lost a couple of sizes during that last 25 too..

I don't agree with you on your methods though, but to each his own.

I am active, I work out, I did stay very low calorie in the beginning but have moved up to the 1000-1200 cal a day range. I do things like reduce carbs or change the workout routine to get things moving and to shake it up.

I have already met my first goal, and feel I am on track to lose the last 30# but it will likely take me another 6 months.

This process doesn't end for me when I get to goal. I am really trying hard to make this forever... whether I stay at my current weight or get those last 30# off I am still trying to keep with a sustainable lifestyle I can do forever. I can't sustain 500# calories a day (did it for a few months) and working out for hours on end every day.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I want to be sure that some of the newbies that this is targeted to see that there are other points of view.

Again, i do agree with your main point which is "Take avantage of the honeymoon period - it is real!"

[Jessica9190 127]

Maybe the op didn't say EXACTLY what everyone on here agrees with but the op does has some valid points about the first six months being the prime time to lose. I have never exercised for four hours and most likely never will but I'm not going to laugh and scoff at the op for making those comments. I'll just know that I'm not taking that route. I think the op's intentions were positively encouraging. I believe the point was to make the first six months the best with the most effort. I appreciate everyone on here who takes the time to offer their experiences and what has worked or not worked for them.

Thank you to all.

[windycitymom 60]

I appreciate June13sleevers initial post. Being almost 9months post op, I can see how things are changing and how I am starting to revert back to old habits if I am not focused and detmined to succeed that day. I haven't had a problem with regain but feel that if I could if I'm not careful. I was a low BMI starting at right around BMI=29.5 and the doctor took out roughly 80% of my tummy so I think I was kinda cocky to begin with. My sugar addiction and emotional overeating are still issues in my life that I must deal with every day. I learned some new habits along the way and work with a coach to help find new habits to keep me successfull otherwise I just feel like a fat girl in skinny girl clothing!

[june13sleever 223]

My experience doesn't sound much like yours at all. I never did 500 calories -- got up to 1000+ as soon as I could, and ate at least 1000 cals per day from like six weeks post-op. After a few months it was 1200-1500, and now it's 1500-2000. I've lost just fine, and worked out not at all the first nine months, then started going to the gym three times a week. But multiple-hour workouts are not really necessary IMO. I'm almost two years out now and still losing slowly here and there, not with some huge extra effort or anything. I think the honeymoon period is a 'thing' but after the honeymoon you're still married as it were.

I am not married like that... I can drink a mocha frap in 5 minutes. The whole thing. I did it once and won't do it again, but I can eat, throw down, and keep on going. You lost 90 pounds. You had wiggle room. But 2 years out and you never reached your goal. I am just saying...and you only had 10 more pounds to go. This may be nasty, but what if you didn't eat so much. You might be 10 pounds under goal. I am sure you are happy, but some people have 150 to 200 pounds to lose.