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Weight loss is tough, even at the best of times, but many of us make it that much more complicated by not addressing some of the biggest concerns associated with weight loss, thus making it more challenging to succeed. Unfortunately, with all the problems we deal with in everyday life, many of us don’t lose the weight we should or want to, or we avoid tough decisions to get the appropriate treatment.
To understand bariatric surgery success, we must discuss the mindset needed for our weight loss journey. Here are the top five things we can do to get out of our own way.
Understand You May Not Be Able to Do It Yourself
This is one of the most challenging parts of weight loss because it’s purely psychologically driven; you may have tried to lose weight for years or even your whole adult life without success. With that track record behind you, it can be challenging to admit you need help. The weight loss – weight gain cycle is a vicious one, and many patients wait far too long to get intervention from their medical team. Whether you speak to your primary care physician or visit us directly, we can find the weight loss option that will yield the best results and get you on track to a new and healthy life.
Understand What It Means to Maintain Your Weight Loss
Whether you choose diet and exercise, weight loss, medication, or bariatric surgery, maintaining your weight loss is challenging. It means you must avoid the most egregiously caloric foods, including those that seem to taste the best – those with the most sugar or carbs. But it does not mean you have to turn your life upside down. You will not eat cardboard-tasting food for the rest of your life. You’ll learn moderation and occasionally enjoy some “cheat” foods while prioritizing the healthiest foods, including protein, complex carbs, and unsaturated fats. Doing this will make you healthier, give you more energy, and avoid many follow-on concerns as we age.
Stop Believing That There Is Such a Thing as Healthy Fat
Let’s dig a little deeper into this. Every one of us has body fat. The brown fat around our bodies is very healthy, and we are not concerned about that. We’re more concerned about the white abdominal fat that not only adds weight to your body but also secretes hormones and chemicals that can alter your hormonal balance – potentially leading to joint dysfunction. If you have significant abdominal fat, you may be one of the few who will never develop metabolic disease. But often, your risk for many metabolic disorders is increased dramatically.
We are talking about the idea that if you are significantly overweight or obese but have few or no comorbidities like high blood pressure, type two diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and more, you are somehow healthy. Your health markers may be good today, but that can change drastically in the future. Maintaining a healthy weight for your body shape and muscle tone is the best way to maintain your health.
Dietary fat is another consideration. Unsaturated fats are decidedly better than saturated fats. The unsaturated fats you get from avocados, healthy oils, olive oil, and salmon are all good for you in moderation, while the saturated fats from red meat and processed foods are just the opposite, in excess.
Seek Emotional and Psychological Support
We always say that any bariatric patient’s weight loss journey is as much psychological as physical; we touched on it above. However, getting professional support from a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist can also delve into the causes of your excess weight or inability to lose that weight. Incidences of trauma, stress, depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns have become more common in modern society and do have a significant impact on our health and our lives. Whether you have concerns surrounding your weight or not, addressing these mental health issues is imperative.
Lastly, Get Educated on the Options
Our practice primarily performs bariatric surgery, and we understand that some patients believe it is a drastic or last-stage option for their excess weight and obesity. However, many patients who come in for a consultation and ultimately have surgery are shocked at how far laparoscopic and robotic bariatric surgery has come. Today, the risk of death due to bariatric surgery is small and comparable to a basic gallbladder removal. This comes from new techniques and technology that have made most bariatric surgeries routine. Understanding your risk comes from getting educated, and there’s no better way than watching our online seminar, followed by coming into the office and meeting with one of our surgeons to learn more.
Why Did We Write This Article?
The answer is simple. Most patients return for six-month or one-year appointments excited about their weight loss and disease improvement progress. However, they often kick themselves, wondering why they didn’t do it sooner. This is not to say that bariatric surgery is for everyone. But for those with morbid obesity and a BMI pushing 40 or over, bariatric surgery is most often a successful, safe, and effective option, especially when compared to the severe consequences of living with obesity.
We look forward to discussing all your weight loss options, and we hope you visit us to learn more about what may be right for you.
