Why does this tool only work first 18months?

Hey guys, I'm 8 months out and have lost 101lbs with about 80 more to go. I'm so thankful! And this is even with have an emergency hysterectomy and going straight into menopause. This is the only thing that has ever worked for me...Anyway, my question is regarding something I have heard repeatedly on one of the facebook support groups. That this tool only works the first 18 months after surgery, and then, in order to lose more weight we have to incorporate more exercise and diet.. is this true? and if so, why? TIA

Good morning -- the honeymoon period is only about 18 months because the body adapts to the malabsorption ...the restriction aspect remains but things are not as "easy" as they are now. The key is to focus on making the right behavioral changes during the honeymoon period so you continue to be successful afterwards. If you're not changing your diet and exercise now then you're probably doing yourself a dis-service!

*edited because I used 18 months 3X in the same sentence (it was pre coffee!!)

I'm at 8 months out as well, so it's all still learning for me as well. Knowing that this is as "easy" as it gets, is extra motivation for me to really maximize my loss by staying on track; developing the coping skills for the head hunger issues that I will need and building consistent habits. It's hard so I'm thankful that I am getting both the restriction and the malabsorption right now!

As others said.

I am over 10 years post op. And at the most my weight fluctuated during the last 10 years from 138 - 175. With having a personal goal at 150-155. Sure, my highest weight is app 20-25 lbs too much, but before RNY my weight fluctuated up to 260 lbs.

When I don't pay attention and eat things I shouldn't, I gain weight. But when I decide I want to lose it - I can. Maybe not as fast as right after my WLS, but I can do it.

Before RNY - I never could keep weight and size as closely as I can after RNY.

My mom had RNY in 2002. She went from about 275 down to 140, bounced back to around 150-160, where she more or less maintained for 13 years. She regained to 190 by slipping into old bad habits, but did NOT regain back up to 275. Her tool still works when she makes good choices. She can't eat more than 4 oz of chicken breast, but she can eat a plateful of spaghetti. Anyway, she is losing her regain, but at the pace of a "normal" person now, since she no longer has the benefit of malabsorption. And if not for the restriction she still has 15 years later, DH she might have regained back to her original weight.

Your body will learn to adapt to the "damage" done by the surgery. That's why they say the first 18 months is the honeymoon phase--it will never be this easy again, though your surgery doesn't just stop working.

It doesn't mean you can't lose weight further out. Again as others have said, just not as easy. Someone in my support group is 14 years out, never had regain, but still had weight she could lose, and lost another 40lbs this year.

Yep, what Cynthia said. I've had to lose regain a few times but always been able to do it, and have caught it earlier each time. I had about 20 regain pounds to lose late this spring and I did lose them. And went on to lose 17 pounds more. So at almost 10 years out I am at my lowest post op weight ever. I've danced around the border of normal/overweight BMI all these years, but sitting here tonight I'm solidly in "normal" territory and have maintained here for some months.

One of my biggest takeaways from the whole process and all of the subsequent years is that there is no magic involved. We lose weight super-fast while our intestines are recovering (as Grim explains). After that, it's all us, all the time. A lot of us are proof though that it can be done, and while it's harder to lose weight post op it is actually possible. And it's possible to keep it off as well. THAT is the difference that surgery makes, in my life at least.

Good luck with your own experience. It truly is what you make of it. =)

what was your caloric intake while you were losing? I am still struggling to lose a few.

I honestly don't know. I don't track and never have. I realize this is not helpful to people so I generally don't discuss it, but the only thing I pay attention to is sugar grams due to horrible dumping and reactive hypoglycemia (I never knowingly eat more than 15 grams of sugar at once).

The surgery remains successful due in large part to eating dense protein first always, some non-carby vegetables next and a couple of bites of some kind of carbs if there is room.

You've been through the ringer it looks like. Your high weight was almost 100 pounds less than mine and I can see other variables as well. We can visit more if you want to PM. (My posts get wordy and I'm trying to learn not to over-answer.)

I should note here: this not-tracking isn't an inherently good thing. Remember I'm almost ten years out and I have had regains. My first was 60 pounds when I was about five years out. I've lost them all and more, but it was not easy.

Right now it is what works for me. But it's as fallible as any other system of weight maintenance.