The Right Mindset Before and After Weight Loss Surgery

A key element of achieving success with bariatric surgery is having the right mindset before and after weight loss surgery. You’ll be given recommendations by healthcare professionals and your procedure will even give you physical tools, but the mental work of losing weight is still up to you! Here are a few mental preparations to make before and after weight loss surgery that can help.

Set realistic weight loss goals.
Your surgeon may be able to help you set realistic goals before you have surgery. It’s important that you know what to reasonably expect, including how soon you should see results. Write these goals down so that you can refer to them after surgery if you ever find yourself feeling frustrated.

Know your personal weight loss obstacles.
Many of the things that prevented you from losing weight before will still be present after weight loss surgery, although you’ll have more tools for addressing them. However, it’s still a good idea to understand what your personal weaknesses are so that you’re prepared to deal with them. For example, are you an emotional eater? You’ll need to focus on finding new coping strategies after surgery.

Make a weight loss commitment to yourself.
Despite what some of your friends or family members might think, having weight loss surgery is not an “easy” solution to weight loss. Make a commitment to yourself before having surgery and take a moment to appreciate the decision you’ve made. You’ll be responsible for making big changes after surgery, and you should be able to acknowledge your hard work. If you find yourself facing challenges after weight loss surgery, remember the promise you’ve made—and have been keeping—to yourself.