Drastic weight loss is never easy to accomplish alone, and though you’ll have our staff to guide you, it helps to have a network of other allies as well. Emotional support and encouragement can come from many places after weight loss surgery and will make it easier to adapt to the changes and challenges you face.
As you begin creating your support system after weight loss surgery, it will be best to enlist the help of:
Bariatric Surgery Support Groups
Those who have never walked a mile in your shoes may not completely understand the things you’re going through. It will help to know a few people who have personal experience with the issues you’re dealing with, and this is what a support group can provide.
Some members of your support group may be grappling with the same problems you face, while others may have already found ways to conquer these obstacles and move on. Support groups are also run by knowledgeable weight loss professionals who can offer practical advice and answers to your questions. Contact our office or visit our calendar to learn about scheduled support groups.
Your Friends and Family
Though you ultimately have control over habits like diet and exercise, your actions are still influenced by those around you. Family members, close friends and coworkers can all have an impact on the decisions you make, and for this reason, it can be valuable to ask for their help. Speak with the important people in your life about your goals and request their support in the days ahead.
Typically, those we spend the most time with will have the biggest influence on our habits. It will be especially important to speak with the people you share your home or workspace with. Explain that your habits will be different after surgery, and that it will be much easier to maintain your progress if junk food is kept inaccessible and you are surrounded by positivity whenever possible.
You may find that some people are not supportive of your goals, or unwittingly do things that sabotage your progress. Though you do not have to end your relationships with these individuals, it will help to limit your contact with them or ask them to be more sensitive to what you’re trying to achieve. Do your best to reduce the influence of:
- People who are overly critical of your weight or negative about your possibility for change
- People who trivialize your weight problems or the difficulty of losing weight
- People who put excessive pressure on you, even if only trying to help
- People who tempt you to eat when and what you shouldn’t
By creating a solid support system, you can make it easier to stay focused on your goals every day. Remember that you can always turn to Dr. Taylor and our staff if you need help and guidance.
Suggested Reading
Family Members Benefit from Bariatric Surgery
Buddy Up: Lose Weight with a Gym Partner
Keep Your Friends Close and Your Best Friends Closer
Also In This Section
- Sleep Better after Weight Loss Surgery
- Getting Active in the Cold
- How to Boost Your Health After Weight Loss Surgery
- Setting Realistic Goals After Surgery
- Eating in Restaurants After Weight Loss Surgery
- Can Being Overweight Hurt You in the Workplace?
- Strategies to Add Activity and Burn Calories after Bariatric Surgery
- Weight Loss Medications: Barriers to Acceptance
- Your Joints and Osteoarthritis
- Benefits of Pilates after Weight Loss Surgery
- Reasons You’re Not Exercising – And What to Do About It
- Setting Goals for Weight Loss
- Walking to Lower Blood Pressure
- Staying Motivated after Weight Loss Surgery
- Exercise for Brain Health
- Boosting Your Mood after Weight Loss Surgery
- Healthy Shopping after Weight Loss Surgery
- The Best Foods for Protein
- Strategies to Prevent Weight Re-Gain
- Considering a New Exercise Program? When to Check-In With Your Doctor First
