Honeymoon period?

When did  your weightloss honeymoon period end? When did you stop losing?

I stopped losing about 18 months out.  I'm not sure exactly when the honeymoon ended.  Did it end then?  How do you know it's ended?

I had the RNY Gastric Bypass procedure done on 03/22/2010 at 281 pounds. I lost 50 pounds 3 months prior to my operation on a 1200 calorie eating plan designed by myself. My starting weight was 331 pounds before the 50 pound weight loss. 

I reached my goal weight of 141 pounds on 6/23/2011. 

I was eating 2000-2500 calories a day from July 2011 to September 2012. 

Since October 2012, I now eat 1650-1800 calories a day to maintain my weight loss of 193 pounds at a weight of 138 pounds. My height is 5'3.5". I am now 59 years young. 

I figure my malabsorption of calories began to come to an end in September 2012.

It was 9 years ago that I had my surgery. I stopped losing after about 12 months. I lost a total of about 120 lbs during those first 12 months. I was very thin and down from a size 22/24 to a 2.  I stayed at that weight/size for about 16 months and then slowly starting to gain weight, which I needed. I put on about 25 lbs over the next 2 years and I have pretty much stayed there ever since. I occasionally loose 5-10 lbs then put them back on. I eat pretty much anything I want, just small portions spread out over the entire day. I have trouble eating bread, steak, pork and white meat chicken, which tends to be dry. I am lactose intolerant now so I use Lactose free milk for making ice cream. Tastes great! I drink all day long to stay hydrated. I don't seem to have any trouble maintaining my current weight. I wish I could afford surgery to remove excess skin from my stomach, thighs and upper arms. I would most likely weigh about 20 lbs less and wear 2 sizes smaller if I could. Oh well, I keep playing the lottery and wishing, lol. If anyone has any questions regarding anything to do with being 9 years after surgery, just ask, always happy to help.

Just wanted to say that it sounds like you have done so well long term post-op.  Very inspiring...thanks for sharing this!

Just wanted to say that it sounds like you have done so well long term post-op.  Very inspiring...thanks for sharing this!

I think it comes down to eating small meals all the time. I do not ever eat a large meal. Even though my pouch has increased in size after all these years. I cannot eat a lot at one sitting and never try. Breakfast is one scrambled egg, 1 piece or bacon or 1 pancake, 1 sausage link. I do not eat cereal and I can't eat anything with sugar in it until after about 3 pm or I get sick. I eat lots of protein and almost no carbohydrates. For dinner, something like a BBQ chicken leg, a deviled egg and maybe a small salad. I eat whatever I want basically, just not a lot of it at one time. I snack on a piece of cheese or a celery stalk with peanut butter. I do not drink anything but coffee in the morning and ice tea all day long. I haven't had a soft drink, beer or anything with bubbles in it since my surgery. Bubbles are my enemy, lol. Can't handle them. I think that has been the key to me staying at this weight for so long now, about 5-6 years so far. Eat small portions, only snack on protein, I lived off beef jerky and snow cones the first summer after my surgery. I was dying of thirst and could not drink enough to satisfy that thirst but eating ice seemed to solve the problem.  I have found for me, that if I snack on nothing but protein, nuts, cheese, beef jerky, maintaining my weight isn't a problem. I eat cake and pie and stuff like that, but only small portions and only in the afternoon/early evening. I drin**** tea constantly, I think that helps too. I've never met anyone from around here as far out from surgery as me. Most everyone is 5 years or less and most of them are eating too much. Hope this info helps.

Congrats on your weight loss !  I am exactly 18 months out now myself.  I was 49 when I had the surgery and will turn 51 later this year. I see your amazing results that you are keeping, and I was wondering about exercise?  Do you exercise and if so, how much and how often?  I get down alot that I pretty much have seemed to have landed at about 188 lbs.... which is a 100 lb loss from where I started.....  I go up or down within a 2-3 lb window each week, but never more either direction... My husband keeps reassuring me that at my age, I may not have the same stats as a woman in her 20's or 30's.   Any advice you can share would be appreciated.  I went from a size 26-28 to a size 14 and feel great, but there is that old negative part of me that is ashamed that I didn't lose more?  Help?      Thanks for listening !!

Hi AlohaJen!

I have never participated in a formal exercise program due to Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. I walk as much as possible. Everytime I try to set up a walking schedule, my knees let me down due to pain from being bone on bone. I am still trying to get a doctor to consider knee surgery. I keep running into the obstacle of “being too young” for surgery.

I am a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian. I eat at least 100 grams of protein a day. I eat dairy products that are no fat/low fat. I eat simple (dairy, fruit) and complex (beans, vegetables, whole grains) carbohydrates (I do not count daily grams). I also eat eggs occasionally. I take all of my supplements and drink 64 ounces of liquids minimum. 

I have not had plastic surgery, nor do I plan on having it. Yes, I have some stretched skin on my abdomen and thighs, but not enough to warrant the pain and expense of surgery. At my age, if a potential suitor can’t deal with physical flaws, then move on down the road...LOL 

I honestly feel that because I have always followed the rules, that I am a Vegetarian, and that I never restricted my calories to an extreme during the “Honeymoon” period, is why I am so successful. Yes, exercise is important for health, but I do not believe the emphasis should be put there for weight loss. Also it makes me cringe when I see others “eat back” their exercise calories.

Hope this helps! Please see my profile page if interested. 

I stopped losing after 7 months post op RNY. Havent lost an ounce since. Surgery was 10/29/12. started at 287 got to my lowest 180 and now am 195 at 18 months out