Hi. I have heard many people on here use the term "honeymoon phase" but I'm curious as to what this means. As I understand it, one goes through am initial phase where restriction due to the sleeve makes weight loss easier. But, there comes a time when people experience less restriction which then makes it more difficult? Is this accurate? If not, how do you see it? When does the honeymoon phase typically end?

I'm really thrilled with my sleeve right now, I'm almost six weeks post-op. I still drink 2-3 Protein drinks a day and am eating puréed foods but really don't have much room for much. Im working on being mindful of where my limits are. I've had a few times where I think I ate too fast and felt discomfort. I have little interest at this time in many of the junk foods I used to crave. It was so amazing for me to be able to not have a Krispy Kreme when a co-worker brought them into work. In the past it would have been so difficult. So, I feel like I'm kind of in a honeymoon phase. Does it get harder over time?

I am 4 months out and I can eat about 3/4 of a plate at dinner. That's still less than half of what I could eat before. I do think that *some* ability to eat more returns, but when they remove 80% or more of your stomach including just about all of the fundus, which is the part that was really elastic, there is no way that we will return to anything like our previous eating capacity. So I wouldn't worry, and I think you're doing the right thing by stopping when you begin to feel full - if you don't, you will feel nauseous.

According to my surgeon, the honeymoon phase is typically the first year. Typically within that time frame your caloric intake is so drastically reduced that it doesn't really matter if you are eating well or poorly, you are still going to lose weight. (Naturally ones results will be better if eating well and following the plan remain consistent)

Know the adage, "Time heals all wounds"? Well like any scar, the sleeve continues healing and becomes more pliable as time goes by. And before anyone jumps my @ss, no... I am not saying you can stretch your stomach. You can weaken the pylorus and force food through it but you won't be able to stretch a properly made sleeve. Also, as we get further out from that first year, old habits can return and people can eat around their sleeve or bypass.

So to re-cap, the honeymoon phase is when the weightloss is easiest. Maintenance phase is going to be tough, just as tough as life before the sleeve.

Best of luck to you.

Thanks for your replies! Very helpful!

Most surgons say around 12 months maybe as longs as 18 months for a few for the honey moon. I know mine stoped at 12 months and now when the real work begins. Enjoy the ride everyone is different.

@@kadie777

The honeymoon phase is about yeah having more restriction but I also think most people are just more motivated and more afraid to do the wrong thing. Accidently overeating, which is easy to do early on even if you measure because the amount of something you can eat can vary a lot based on the Water content of the food which can vary based on preparation, was something I was terrified of. So I would eat sparingly and very mindful. Then once I healed at 6 months, I wasn't as cautious because pain and discomfort from being overly full is rare.

I still have a lot of restriction, and 5 ounces is about my max. Maybe 6 ounces of really moist fish. I will be 1 year post op in a week. At this point I don't see how I will stop losing, and I feel I will keep losing slowly for a ver long time, just because it is basically impossible for me to eat an amount of calories near my resting metabolic rate, unless I just sit and eat all day, and I don't have time for that.