Several months ago, someone in my personal life went through weight loss surgery. I agreed to be an emotional support person throughout the process because this is key to success. About a month before surgery, I texted a list of the top things I think it takes to be successful in this process. I have kept this, modified it, and shared it with many others.
It’s really a gift when you have been through your own weight loss journey to be an emotional support to someone else going through their own journey.
If you do not plan to have weight loss surgery, stay with me and I assure you many items on this list will apply to you as well.
This list is also something I refer to when I need to re-set. It’s long, but I think you will find it helpful.
- Clean room/house before surgery or starting a weight loss program: I love a clean house. With that said, I work full time, live with a spouse, and teenager, and my house is never as clean as I would like. I settle for most things organized and back in a tidy, somewhat organized space. Cleaning out cupboards, purchasing foods you need, and getting rid of foods you don’t need or won’t use is helpful. This process is like setting a new tone for success at the beginning of a journey, re-setting, or getting ready for weight loss surgery. Before surgery I also recommend cleaning your personal space and planning ahead for what you might need close by. For weight loss surgery, most are up and walking around, so not as much of a need to organize your room. I have had other surgeries (foot surgery) and injuries that having everything close by was more helpful because I was not able to be up walking around for a few days to a few weeks.
On a side note, my teenager has me figured out! His room is a constant source of frustration for this mom. I tend to just close his door so I don’t have to look at it. I usually make him clean it at least once a month. That said, when I’m really upset with him, I go in and clean his room. I think he uses this to his advantage now.
2. Keep water, protein shakes, and broth close by: After surgery sipping water, broth, and protein shakes are very important. It’s important to say hydrated and nourished. Each weight loss clinic might differ on the amount of liquids and the stages, so be sure to check in. If you are starting a weight loss journey, keep on hand those items that might be lower calories, points, or considered free items. This will help when you really want something, but don’t have the budget for it in your day. I wish I liked tea because most of my friends tell me this is great to sip on. I often used broth to ease my way. This is something I could do better on now as well.
3. Walk several times per day: After surgery, walking is absolute key to physical recovery and emotional well-being. It helps reduce gas, pain, and prevents blood clots. Starting a weight loss journey, walking or some type of other physical activity is proven to help you stay committed, feel better emotionally/physically, and studies show this is a key to long term weight loss success.
4. Keep all post op appointments: Assuring you are staying on the right track is extremely important as well as getting support to be successful. This also helps with accountability and long-term success of your programs. Don’t stop going because you feel you’ve got it down. For any weight loss journey, a trusted healthcare and/or behavioral health specialist can answer questions and provide guidance/support. Most people I know are overweight struggle with food addiction for various reasons and some of this is trauma related. A willingness to address this with a healthcare professional is important to understanding how you got where you are and how to get where you hope to go.
5. Food journal/weight log: Journaling is key to success for pre-surgical, post-surgical, and any weight loss program. I’ve had to learn to be honest and am committed to this because it only hurts me in the long run if I’m not. Follow your healthcare guidance about how often to weigh and how to journal.
6. Fully commit for six months: My surgeon told me to fully commit to following every guideline for six months after surgery and this had data showing more success with weight loss surgery. Really good advice for any weight loss as studies show long term success as more time passes with your new habits.
7. Not a quick fix: Remember surgery and any weight loss journey is not a quick fix. Surgery is a tool to aid in weight loss. It takes commitment and work. Some people make assumptions that surgery is the easy way, however I can assure you it’s not easy. No weight loss program is. Perseverance is important.
8. Take vitamins/get labs: I had the RNY procedure which leads to vitamin deficiencies. Your healthcare professional will recommend vitamins and labs to assure you are not deficient.
9. Reach out to your support team often: Medical/healthcare/behavioral health questions should be asked when you have them. Having a trusted team is key to all of this. For your emotional support teams in your personal life, it’s important to trust they are there to listen and re-assure you through the process of any weight loss journey.
10. Weight loss support groups: This was a requirement for me to have surgery. I belong to two of them plus a third accountability group. These are on Facebook for me and are monitored closely so that all comments are helpful and positive. If your group is not helpful and positive, consider finding a new one.
11. Celebrate Non-Scale Victories (NSV’s): These are as important if not more important than your scale. I love seeing these on my support groups. Common celebrations are airplane seatbelts that buckle easier, clothes that fit better, a run/hike/physical activity you are more successful at. Lots of them and I would encourage you to focus on this daily.
12. Find hobbies: It’s important to have nonfood focused activities/leisure in your life. I have games I play on my tablet, puzzles, subscription to audio books, etc.
13. Mindful of statements from others: Your weight loss program/clinic might recommend some books to you. I read one that is a little outdated now, however was a guide for how to handle all things surgery, but also comments from others. Most of the people I told were extremely positive, however some were not. I had people ask why not do it on my own, they asked if I was sick, asked if I knew the long-term impacts. Another person told me their loved one had surgery and it was a terrible outcome. Learn to handle those comments for any weight loss journey so you are prepared for how you will respond to them and also to yourself.
14. Physical Activity/Exercise: Be committed to physical activity lifelong. Find something you enjoy. I am limited in mobility due to my Charcot food disability. I’ve had times where I’m more limited than others. Right now, one of my NSV’s is that both of my feet are in a great place to allow me to walk up to 2 miles a few times per week. Other days I walk shorter distances with my pup. I also love swimming and right now I’m allowed as much as I want.
Please consider leaving me a comment and if you see something not on my list that you find helpful, post it to me on Facebook or here.
Until next time,
Mandy
Thank you for some great reminders, you are a great communicator, again thanks
Thank you