Some concerns many women have after their weight loss surgery are easy to alleviate with the proper encouragement and emotional support.  To help you succeed in this journey, you need to be optimistic.  Here are some common questions that may arise.

Will My Family be Proud of Me?

Of course they will!  But sometimes issues pop up just the same.

You are doing something to actively make a drastic change occur in your life.  Some families may feel threatened, especially if weight maintenance is difficult for other members in the family.

They may feel threatened as you start to lose weight.  They might be unwilling to aide you with your recovery, or pessimistic with regards to exercise.  They may also be reluctant to consider your dietary needs.

Do not fear that they do not love you or aren’t proud of you.  They may just be worried that you won’t need them once you’ve met your goals.  Assure them that you value their opinions, and let them know how important their help is for you to succeed.

Will My Husband Still Love Me?

For some couples, marital problems can begin after you’ve had surgery.  Many spouses worry that you are not losing weight to improve your health.  They may fear that you are trying to attract someone new, and that when you’ve met your goals you will leave or replace them.

Especially if your spouse struggles with their weight, they may feel insecure that you are losing so much while their difficulties persist.  Make sure they understand that you are doing this for your own health and self-esteem, and that you still love them.  Let them know that it is because of their love and encouragement that you are able to do this.

My Family isn’t Supporting Me on My Strict Bariatric Diet.  What Can I Do?

First, know that you are not alone! This is one of the most frequent issues that arise after surgery.

It is challenging already to adopt new eating habits.  Having others disregard your dietary restrictions can make things especially difficult.  If you cannot get your family to start eating healthier foods with you, you may be up for a real challenge.

Having junk food in the house, or watching other people eat unhealthy foods, can cause constant temptation.  Don’t give in!  Don’t let anyone sabotage your aims.  After a few weeks, greasy burgers and soggy fries won’t look nearly as appetizing as they used to–trust me!

In the meantime, try to discuss these and any other issues you may be having with familial support.  If you talk to them about it, they will feel less threatened and will start encouraging you.

If you need to, enlist the aid of outside help from a bariatric professional counselor.  No matter what do not give up, you have what it takes to get thin again!

New Clothes After Bariatric Surgery

As your weight and body size dwindles you will need to have lessening sizes of clothes. Buying new clothes each time you lose a size can be cost prohibitive. There are a few different ways you can solve this problem.

You might be surprised what kind of clothes you can find at used clothing stores. I have found some nearly new items that I was more than happy to purchase and wear. This can really save you some bucks till you reach your goal weight and reward yourself with some new clothes.

Local support groups are a great place to exchange clothes too. Most people will be at different periods of their goal weight. Starting a clothes exchange at meetings can be a great way to recycle your clothes and add new ones to your wardrobe.

The Fast Food Dilemma

Stopping for fast food will be a rarity. However, most of the fast food joints now cater to healthy eaters too. So if you find yourself up at the counter ordering make sure to make it one of their healthy alternatives. I have to admit they are pretty darn good too.

Sweet Tooth Alternatives

Many of us find it extremely hard to give up sweets after bariatric surgery. One thing I have found to be particularly helpful is sugar-free popsicles. With no calories this is a great treat to have especially in the hot summer months. The different flavors make it easier to not get tired of the same old thing.

Fresh fruit not only can satisfy your sweet cravings but the texture can satisfy the sensation or urge to be munching on something. Frozen grapes are a great way to go in the summer. If you haven’t tried them yet just toss a few in the freezer and they will be ready to go in no time.

Why Gastric Bypass Supplements

After any type of weight loss surgery, you may no longer be able to eat enough food to maintain proper nutrition. High quality gastric bypass supplements can help bridge the gap and help you maintain optimal health.

Why Children’s Chewables are Bad for Your Post Gastric Bypass Diet

When your stomach can only hold small quantities of food, it’s hard to get all of the vitamins and minerals that you need.

Many doctors recommend children’s vitamins because they are readily available. But children’s vitamins are formulated for children and are not intended for grown adults, let alone gastric bypass surgery patients who have supplement needs that differ from the general public.

Many children’s vitamins also have sugars and carbohydrates. Given how much those need to be limited after weight loss surgery, you don’t really want to “waste them” on chewable children’s vitamins.

High Quality Bariatric Vitamins

High quality vitamins designed for weight loss surgery patients should not contain any fillers. Fillers impede the absorption of vitamins.

The word “filler” might sound like it’s filling to your stomach. But in fact, fillers are either inert or they are actually detrimental because they contain things to make the vitamin taste good – things like sugar!

Worst of all, fillers can hamper the way your stomach now takes in nutrients. Malabsorption is a serious condition—especially when your hair or teeth begin to fall out!Fillers are junk and a high quality bariatric vitamin won’t contain any fillers.

Cheaper vitamins may not be as easily absorbed by your body. Gastric bypass surgery patients have even more refined needs as they can suffer from malabsorption syndrome. Vitamins and minerals can come in different chemical forms and from different sources, and they are not created equally.

When choosing gastric bypass supplements, make sure that you are buying from a reputable company and that you are getting vitamins that are specifically formulated for your special dietary needs.

Recovery Strategies after Weight Loss Surgery 

In order to support your weight loss surgery, you need to make different, healthier choices. Instead of eating fast food and snacking on sugary junk food, you will have to nourish your body in other ways. 

You will have to think about what you eat and plan your meals carefully. It helps to try and cut out the non-essentials that are damaging to your health, like caffeine and nicotine. 

It’s Not Easy for Anybody 

Change is difficult for us all–especially major dietary change. It’s not uncommon to struggle and backslide. If you want to hold onto the benefits of gastric bypass, you need to have a plan. 

The first step is shopping smart. You need to have healthy and nourishing foods in your home so that you can create the right kind of meals. Your meals should be made with whole food ingredients with little to no processed food. Avoid additives and processed preservatives. Make your food as nourishing as possible 

Bariatric Vitamins after Weight Loss Surgery 

The second step is to give your body the right nourishment through vitamins. Vitamins are an essential part to recovery after weight loss surgery. Your body needs specific nutrients to repair itself. For this reason, you should seek out bariatric vitamins. 

Bariatric vitamins are designed to assist gastric bypass patients with the nutrition necessary to maintain results and rebuild a healthy immune system. Bariatric vitamins should easily dissolve and contain no additives and preservatives. These support you body and assist with healing. 

If you find yourself having a moment of weakness there are support groups available after weight loss surgery. Just search on the Internet to find a group in your area. Your doctor may also be able to suggest resources that will help support you in your new life. 

Although the changes are many, the rewards are worth it. Slow and steady progress are the keystones to long lasting success.