Bariatric surgery can be just the thing you’ve been waiting for all your life. Before taking this leap of faith you were struggling with losing weight – and most of all – keeping it off long term.
And now that you’re on your bariatric journey, you finally have a tool to help you create a new lifestyle for good.
With bariatric surgery comes many benefits, such as the obvious one: weight loss. But also the more emotional wins, like feeling more confident and doing all the things you might have put off for way too long, because of your weight and/or health are worth to mention.
But life after bariatric surgery is not all rainbows and unicorns. With bariatric surgery, unexpected fears might arise. Things that keep your eyes glued to the ceiling at night while you should be sound asleep getting that much needed rest.
Well, help is on its way! Because in this blogpost, we address 3 common post-op concerns, and more importantly, how to tackle them head on. Let’s get into it!
“
1. The fear of slow weight loss, weight stalls and weight regain
If you’ve tried to lose weight for years only to find out that diets don’t work long-term, then it’s no surprise that losing weight has become stressful. And this type of stress doesn’t magically disappear after having bariatric surgery (as a matter of fact, you may find yourself comparing your journey more to others than ever before – come back here to read our best tips to overcome the post-op comparison trap).
And when you tie your personal self-worth to the number on the scale (which might be a subconscious process), that number on the scale can become an obession.
It not a surprise that a hyper-fixation on weight is common within the bariatric community. Whether it’s dealing with the mental consequences of weight stalls or facing weight regain – these hurdles can impact the way you feel.
Does the scale dictate your mood 90% of the time?
Then it’s time to shift your focus to other things besides your weight loss charts. And here are some examples to pay more attention to whenever you feel that crippling fear of not “losing (fast ) enough” creep up:
- Focus on your health: how has you health improved since you had bariatric surgery?
- Focus on the small wins: drinking a glass of water without feeling nauseous, feeling better in your own skin. Be present and mindful of everything that’s going well so far.
- Take care of yourself: plan “me-time”, sleep better and connect with your feelings without judging yourself for them. And remember: you are not your thoughts.
Keep in mind that your feelings about your weight loss process are valid. Try to learn how to trust yourself and the process while you stay focused on all the bariatric basics to help you get closer to your goals.
2. Feeling spooked out by the foamies and dumping syndrome
Having a smaller stomach leads to weight loss most of the time. Yet, the side effects of bariatric surgery can be daunting.
For example, the foamies and dumping syndrome can completely take you off guard. On top of that, not knowing how your bariatric tummy will react to food can make eating in public a hassle too.
How to tackle this fear?
For starters, remember that eating slower can make a huge difference in how food is being digested. If you swallow chunks of food instead of chewing them until mush, you risk more digestive issues.
Second, keeping your solids and liquids separately also helps to keep those digestive issues in check. When you mix solids and liquids, your food might move through your digestive system quicker making dumping syndrome more likely.
Last, pay attention to the type of foods you eat. Some foods may trigger dumping syndrome or the foamies more easily than others. Generally, processed foods high in simple sugars and saturated fats (like slider foods) can be more bothersome than wholesome nutritious meals.
3. Being worried about old habits creeping back
Old habits die hard.
This saying exists for a reason, because it’s true.
Did you know that it takes about 400 repetitions before a new habit is formed? And the work isn’t done after those hundreds of tries.
Change demands overcoming your obstacles over and over again.
How to tackle this fear?
Start with letting go of the need to be perfect as it only puts a huge amount of pressure on yourself. You will make mistakes, and that’s okay. Every “mistake” is a learned lesson. Take accountability, but give yourself grace too. Be realistic, but be self-compassionate too.
Also, keeping score of your wins helps to shift focus from the things you “need to do better”. Using a habit tracker can be very satisfying as your progress is laid out visually.
Final words about insecurities in your journey
Everybody has fears. And you don’t have to run away from them. By acknowledging your feelings, you make space for them to be and to work through them.
Learning how to trust yourself (with food) is a journey on its own. Feeling confident that you WILL succeed takes time. And speaking kindly to yourself, also on the “bad” days, is a must to build a positive mindset after bariatric surgery.
About Your Onederland
We may not be over-sharers on a personal level, BUT we are ridiculously good in sharing what’s gonna help you make your journey work.
With a free members platform (no fees, 100% free) we give you a place to connect and call home. A place free of judgment for what is or isn’t on your plate.
Also, we give you free guides to help you get started and free recipes for meal inspiration (nobody wants to eat bland chicken for the rest of their lives, right?)..
We welcome you with open arms to Your Onederland! Let’s do this together!
Oh…one last thing!
We’re adamant about making resources that are actually helpful for your post-op success (without having to pay hundreds of whatever currency to access them). If you’re ready to outsmart your fears by gaining knowledge about the “why’s” after bariatric surgery (why your weight stalls, why drinking water is hard, why hitting your protein goals is taxing, why regain happens – all of that plus how to overcome these hurdles) – then The Bariatric Blueprint is just what you need. Find out why this book hits 5-star reviews consistently and grab your copy too!
