How Weight Loss Support Programs Help You Maintain Long-Term Success
Weight loss surgery can be life-changing, but it’s the support you receive along the way that leads to sustainable, long-term results.
Bariatric surgery offers many benefits, from the physical to the psychological. As you lose weight, you gain a more complete sense of well-being and a greater ability to enjoy life with energy and confidence.
While the advantages of weight loss surgery are numerous — it can reverse your type 2 diabetes, for instance — it’s also important to fully understand how the procedure will impact your life. In order to achieve the best results, patients should receive comprehensive guidance and support both before and after their treatment.
Long Island Laparoscopic Doctors asks each patient to commit to an aftercare program that will help them stay on track after surgery. This program includes diet and exercise plans, as well as peer support from people who know what you’re going through. Support groups are a safe space in which to share your struggles and triumphs where you’ll be met with compassion and encouragement.
Preparing for Your Weight Loss Procedure
Before you decide to undergo bariatric surgery, your doctor will walk you through the steps of your journey to success. These include the risks and benefits of the procedure, as well as what to expect during the surgery and recovery period.
Many doctors will recommend that you begin a diet and exercise regimen before your procedure. This will jumpstart your weight loss and ensure you get the best results from your surgery. Further, you’ll have access to informational lectures with insights to keep you motivated throughout the process. With the help of a team of experienced nutritionists, surgeons, and other weight loss experts, you can feel confident that you’ll achieve results that will last for many years to come.
What to Expect During Your Recovery Period
After your weight loss surgery, you’ll begin a period of recovery. During this time, you’ll attend a series of follow-up appointments where your surgeon will make sure you’re progressing as expected. You’ll also dive deeper into your nutritional guidelines and establish lifestyle changes that will facilitate sustained weight loss. For instance, patients are generally instructed to incorporate some kind of exercise — no matter how small — into their daily routines.
Your new diet plan will likely focus on high-quality protein and whole foods. By eating several small, nutrient-dense meals per day, you’ll keep yourself from feeling deprived while maximizing weight loss. You’ll also work on developing positive eating patterns and address challenges such as emotional eating, habitual snacking, and portion control.
Embracing the New You
After undergoing bariatric surgery, many patients experience vast improvements in their mental and physical health. Feelings of depression are often greatly reduced, as are symptoms of type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea.
However, the changes that go along with substantial weight loss may take some getting used to. To help you adjust to your new life post-surgery, we recommend that you attend a support program made up of other people who are going through similar experiences. In these group sessions, you can speak freely about your successes and concerns, and provide support to others as they share their stories.
In a very practical way, support groups help patients build new relationships with food. People who have suffered from obesity are often used to reaching for food in times of celebration, boredom, sadness, and more, and it’s important to build new habits and coping strategies. Support groups can help you find new hobbies and tools like meditation to manage life’s stressors. Ultimately, these peer networks are an important part of building the skills to live life fully and embrace the new you.
If you’re interested in learning more about how weight loss surgery can change your life, contact Long Island Laparoscopic Doctors today. We’ll help you find the treatment that’s right for you, and empower you to achieve your long-term weight loss goals.