Bariatric Honeymoon Phase and Success Habit Changes

As weight loss surgery patients, we have likely heard the term “honeymoon phase.” It’s the 1st year of marriage between you and your new body. You are excited, eat healthier, hydrate more, and exercise daily. You feel incredible, and you’re rapidly rebuilding your self-confidence. You committed to yourself and others that you will never divorce the “new you.”

The honeymoon phase can last six months to two years following weight loss surgery. How will you spend this time? You will quickly lose weight with limited food intake and no exercise during this time. However, this phase will slow down, and you should be prepared for experiencing minor weight gain and increased hunger.

What happens next?

Old habits slowly creep back into your life, one by one. Like a thief who cares nothing about you, the joy you once had is gradually stripped away.

Lifelong Success Habit Changes
The Success Habits Educational Series for Weight Loss Surgery Patients is a research-based educational offering designed to improve initial outcomes and long-term weight maintenance following weight loss surgery.

The Success Habits Principles are now taught in hundreds of bariatric programs worldwide and are recommended by many Bariatric Centers of Excellence, surgeons, and bariatric health professionals.

Personal Accountability

“I recognize that I alone am responsible for my successes and failures.”

Through our Success Habits study, we found that the most successful weight loss surgery patients are those who weigh themselves regularly. They each have a profound sense of personal responsibility for their success, regard their surgery as a tool, and are committed to always knowing where they are: they keep their weight in check.

Portion Control

“I understand the importance of satiety and listen to my body’s signals.”

We must understand the differences between hunger and appetite.

Hunger is the primary physiological drive to find food to eat. Hunger is the actual need for nourishment.

Appetite, however, is simply the desire to eat and has little to do with nourishment. Weight loss surgical procedures are restrictive procedures that allow the patient to have a feeling of satiety: to feel full and satisfied with very little food.

Nutrition

“I make good healthy food choices each day.”

30% of your diet should come from vegetables. Here’s a simple way to measure your vegetable intake: Take three bites of protein to one bite of vegetables. Vegetables are an essential source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber and are low in fat and calories.

Beware of slider foods. These are simple processed carbohydrates with little or no nutritional value. They will not keep you satiated, and they will slip right through your pouch or sleeve. A few examples are chips, popcorn, crackers, candy and ice cream.

Fluid Intake

“I drink the right amount of the right beverages each day.”

Choosing to drink carbonated beverages can be detrimental to your long-term success. Limit caffeine.

Stay hydrated. A smaller stomach capacity makes it easy to become dehydrated following bariatric surgery. This can lead to serious complications such as electrolyte imbalances, kidney stones and constipation. Drinking water is essential to healing, improving energy levels and better digestion. You should drink 64 ounces of water per day following bariatric surgery.

Regular Exercise

“I have adopted exercise as part of my lifestyle.”

Start an exercise program. It will be easier to maintain if you start it during this phase instead of waiting until your honeymoon phase has come to an end.

Do whatever exercise you like, but make sure you include some type of movement for at least 20 – 30 minutes a day.

The American Heart Association recommends 150 minutes of physical activity per week. Roughly 21 minutes a day.

Vitamins & Supplements

“I take good quality vitamins each day to ensure my good health.”

Take your vitamins. Taking vitamins after surgery is crucial because of the surgical changes to your stomach. You may not be able to absorb as many nutrients from your food, leading to deficiencies which can result in fatigue, anemia, bone loss and muscle weakness.

More Tips:

Journal your protein intake. Be aware of where your calories come from and read nutrition labels. This will be a valuable tool when you can eat a little more and have already formed a journaling habit.
Understand your triggers. Many psychological factors can cause you to eat following bariatric surgery. Understanding yours will be key to long-term success. Some triggers include head hunger, social pressure, and emotional eating.
Pack your toolbox. Should you slip back into old habits, have various “tools” at your disposal. Attend support groups, include your family and friends to help you be accountable, make sure you do not miss any follow-up visits with your bariatric team, and weigh yourself regularly. It’s much easier to lose a couple of pounds rather than 10.