The honeymoon period is definetely over!! And now I know by personal experience that the honeyperiod does exist!

As many of you know I've been struggling with working my sleeve lately, so I decided to go back to basics and it isn't easy!!!!!!!! I'm back to mostly Protein and good carbs and no snacking. I've started to increase the intensity of my workouts to try and start moving the scales again. No more snacking and NO junk or alcohol! And it's much harder then in the first 6 months, at least for me. I'm craving carbs like mad, today I was doing a body combat class and I got all shakey and had to sit down and put my feet up for a few minutes, and I know it'ss my blood sugar trying to regulate itself again. I didn't give in though, just had a small fruit smoothie (no sugar) and now having chicken breast for lunch.

So for those of you who are in the early stages try and do your best in the first few months, check on Tiffykins posts where she said she never strayed til she got to goal (or Juliarh). I know I'm gonna make it to goal, but it's damn harder now that I'm almost 11 months out, so wish me luck and makethe most of your first few months!!

Chilo1 - Try not to be angry with yourself. It was 1 piece of cake and some icecream. You are human & this kind of stuff is part of life.

Congrats on getting back in the game today. That is SUPER!!!!

Yeah Chilo, at least you didn't eat the whole blasted cake and the entire box of ice cream! I slice and 1 scoop is so normal compared to how we used to eat. . . you did good girl! Keep up the good work! I went horseback riding with the family for fathers day and daughter's 21st birthday and then to Texas Roadhouse for a western dinner. . . yummmmm then came home and had drinks and desserts. . . i loved it, it was loads of fun and now i can worry about the weight later. . . hehehe

Chilo1 - missed you girl! I'm so happy to be back in the forum, sharing with my VSG team! I've recently returned to the boards with some postings about this very topic, the frustrations and mainly fear that have come along with my one year anniversary (14 July). I was spinning out of control with my carbs and although I wasn't gaining, I had stopped losing, plus I was suddenly experiencing hunger and what appeared to be the ability to eat normal portions, I freaked out!!

But my order of protein bullets arrived in the mail, I got into a good rhythm of my zumba classes again, and lo - 5 pounds down in 4 days! I am now fully on board the wagon, preaching to all and sundry - IT IS ALL ABOUT THE PROOOOOOOOTEIN! =) Once I got back to eating 80+ grams of protein a day and less than 50gs of carbs, my "capacity" to eat vanished, as did my "hunger". I had also fallen prey to what I call "revenge of the cheap ****"; cheap snacks tend to have way more refined sugar, carbs,and corn syrup in them and they f*** you up, fast.

Also, I suppose that in some way, it is finally paying off that I have been an incredibly slow loser during my first year, depressingly frustratinlgly slow. Because now, there is no sudden slap in the face and obvious end to the honeymoon, I just keep on being the slw-a$$ loser I've always been =). Hey, I don't mind being the turtle, so long as I finish the race. =) Keep the faith chilo!

GT!! Nice to see you again (or read you)!! Glad you're doing well, how much more to goal?? I've been stuck for ages, but heyho, I'm not doing things exactly as I should, apart from the exercise bit. Thanks for the encouragement!

So glad to read this. I ended my honeymoon period much too early. Family wedding and summer parties led to drinks and junky food. I thought I couldn't eat these things. Funny, I was able to eat and drink with no uncomfort or sickness. Now I know for a fact I SHOULDN'T EAT THEM not that I can't eat them! And I wonder why I have been a month with no loss... getting back on track now. Gotta love this support group!

Hi All, I am in the same boat! The head hunger is crazy I didn't have it as much before surgery! It scares me silly. I try to snack on fruits only and strawberries cut up and mixed into sugar free vanilla pudding. Watermelon is a real tummy filler.

Hi All, I am in the same boat! The head hunger is crazy I didn't have it as much before surgery! It scares me silly. I try to snack on fruits only and strawberries cut up and mixed into sugar free vanilla pudding. Watermelon is a real tummy filler.

Just a heads up, some fruits are high glycemic index, like watermelon is very high... all that means is they dump sugar into your blood stream quickly and get an insulin response...which makes you hungry. You are better off eating a piece of cheese or a few nuts or something with some Protein in it. Even if you eat protein with your fruit snack it will help reduce the insulin response.

I'm with ya chica. I can hold more food for example last night I ate 1 and 1/2 tacos 4 months ago i could eat 3/4 of one. That's double my capacity. More that volume it's that the hunger cravings have come back. When seeing Diva's post today about the 30 day challenge I cringed at the thought of getting rid of my pastas, breads, and sugars. I'm still debating if I want to jump on that train or not.

I'm with ya chica. I can hold more food for example last night I ate 1 and 1/2 tacos 4 months ago i could eat 3/4 of one. That's double my capacity. More that volume it's that the hunger cravings have come back. When seeing Diva's post today about the 30 day challenge I cringed at the thought of getting rid of my pastas, breads, and sugars. I'm still debating if I want to jump on that train or not.

It's only 30 days... I say do it!! *Hugs*

When weather cools in the fall I will be exercising more. Hard to be outside when nearly 110 degrees! I find the protein is key to keep me from thinking hunger. If I take too much carb, I don't do as well with lost weight. Working so hard to reach 30 pound loss and inch into the 180's. Not too easy!! I do fine if my food is moist, not backed up into my throat. I seem to get nauseated if it backs up into my throat--I fear that I might choke. I tolerate soft, and smooth foods well. I will always have to use protein shakes to supplement my eating. Ronda

So how are you all doing now? I have been gone from the forum for awhile. Just getting busy with life stuff. But this thread is speaking to me. I had surgery Feb. 11, 2011 and I feel like I am eating too much. Ok not toomuch but really the same foods before surgery just smaller portions. Yesterday I ate a whole Snickers bar. Really? Yes, really a whole Snickers bar. I need to get my head back in the game. I seriously can justify just about anything in my head. I keep telling myself that "I'm not gaining so don't beat yourself up" but seriously I'm not losing either. I have been between 169 and 172 for at least 2 months now. Lost 50 altogether so far but seriously none of that in the lat 2 months actually 3 months. Ugh!! Now I am rambling. Sorry had to vent.

I am doing well-32.5 lost!! Still concentrating on protein shakes that I am going to use the rest of my life. I like them, and they keep me satisfied better. Still having issues with some meats, but have been successful with eggs, tuna, light cheeses, and string cheese. Breads, I do whole wheat toasted dry, graham cracker (Low fat), organic oatmeal with flaxseed, I also like carbsmart tortilla for wraps. My problem is the meat gets cooked too dry, I take a bite or 2, it backs up into my throat then I wind up nauseated. Choking scares me. Will be returning to work soon, so will have to make sure my menus are protein packed. I also eat 2T dry roasted peanuts. Veggies, I need to puree still. because I am 2 mos postop.

So how are you all doing now? I have been gone from the forum for awhile. Just getting busy with life stuff. But this thread is speaking to me. I had surgery Feb. 11, 2011 and I feel like I am eating too much. Ok not toomuch but really the same foods before surgery just smaller portions. Yesterday I ate a whole Snickers bar. Really? Yes, really a whole Snickers bar. I need to get my head back in the game. I seriously can justify just about anything in my head. I keep telling myself that "I'm not gaining so don't beat yourself up" but seriously I'm not losing either. I have been between 169 and 172 for at least 2 months now. Lost 50 altogether so far but seriously none of that in the lat 2 months actually 3 months. Ugh!! Now I am rambling. Sorry had to vent.

I think we end up in the doldrums from time to time... Are you writing down everything you eat? Keeping track of cals, carbs and Protein? Drinking Water? Perhaps if you just do that...I find that looking at my eating "in the face" really helps me get back in line. Good luck on getting back on track, and congrats on staying the same!

I can totaly relate to the "honeymoon over" concept.

I have lost 53 pounds to das to date and by now i should have lost an additional 10 pounds should I not be snacking and eating junk again. I am not focusing on proteins as i should I I certainly overeat most of the time to the point of feeling uncomfortable. I planned to do the pouch test this week but then postponed it to next week. I continue to loose weight but very slowly. I hope i will be able to resume eating small portions and more frequentlty as i have definetely fallen into the old habits again.

Chilo you and I seem to follow the same patterns and we were sleeved only weeks apart. I too was snacking a lot, eating ice cream and other crap food. I did get relief when i stopped taking some meds that were making me wana chow but sometimes I am so scared that I am going to sabotage myself and end up wasting my $ and the trauma I went through getting sleeved. I do get a ton of mental/emotional support by stopping in here and reading. Thank you for sharing that you feel the same. I think you are doing great by just being mindful of it and I need to keep telling myself the same thing.

TIffy I am sorry that you have struggled with the hunger games now that you are expecting. I had always felt like you were living the sleeve dream and something was the matter with my sleeve or with me. I guess everyones experience will be different and all we can do is share and encourage each other. Thank you for sharing that it means a lot.