Whether you have a gastric band, bypass, or sleeve procedure, your weight loss surgery is only the start of your journey. It’s not simply a ‘quick fix’.
Weight loss success – and weight management following that – means making permanent changes to your lifestyle and placing a real focus on the health of your mind and body.
Transform has helped thousands of people to finally lose weight and keep it off. Working towards a fitter, healthier and, ultimately, happier you takes a change of mindset, but can be so worthwhile – especially when you remember to put your mental and physical wellbeing centre stage.
Realistic expectations
Let’s begin with your weight-loss expectations and the goals you’ve set yourself. Before you had your surgery, it’s likely that you had some sort of target weight in mind. However, it’s important to remember that your weight loss progress after treatment will be uniquely personal to you. Everyone comes in different shapes and sizes, and so your ‘getting fit’ might look very different to someone else’s. In the age of social media, selfies, comparison pictures, and before and after treatment shots, it can be all too easy to compare yourself to other people. Try not to – just aim to be as fit as YOU can be, and not someone else.
Non-scale victories (NSVs)
It’s a fantastic feeling when you step on the scales and notice you’ve reached another weight loss milestone. Whether it’s losing one pound or one stone, it’s important to celebrate every victory!
But not all fitness goals need to rely on a number to measure your success. It helps to celebrate non-scale victories too, to keep you motivated and make sure you continue to notice the many positive benefits weight loss brings. Here are just some of the NSVs you might experience as you lose weight following bariatric surgery:
- Having more energy
- Getting a better night’s sleep
- Feeling more comfortable in your clothes
- Losing inches
- Improved mood
- Skin improvements
- Feeling more comfortable and confident in your own skin
Preparation is key
Change is hard, and making lifestyle improvements, although they’re for the better, can be tricky! You’ll be amazed how much easier preparing meal plans can help you in the long run, by taking some of the stress out of your post-op diet and making portion control easier to manage. Writing a meal planner keeps you on track for the week, and means you can avoid reaching for the phone to order takeout food for convenience. When you prepare your meals in advance, you’ll start to appreciate the benefits of having a well-balanced meal ready to enjoy after a long day!
Exercise your way
Following your procedure, you’ll receive an exercise guide to help you out for your first few months, outlining which activities work best for each step of your journey.
Once your recovery period is complete and you've been cleared by your surgeon to exercise, it's time to start thinking about what you’re interested in. Once you’ve decided, begin by setting yourself small, achievable goals - as you meet these, you’ll be able to enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with it. Building an exercise routine that suits you might be difficult at first, but with some practice you’ll soon start to experience both physical and mental benefits.
When it comes to exercise, we all have our preferences as to what works for us, and what doesn’t. If what you’re doing to get fit doesn’t make you happy, it may be time to adjust your routine so that you can keep your fitness levels up.
Keep the faith
We all have good days and bad days when we’re working on our fitness, and when it comes to the bad days, the idea of simply giving up can be tempting. However, it’s important to have trust in the process and keep faith in your progress. Whether it’s setting NSV targets, weight loss milestones, or tracking your balanced meals, be sure to acknowledge and reward any achievements on your weight loss journey, as they’ll motivate you to push on and keep going.
Although these tips are a great guide towards leading a healthier lifestyle, you’ll still need to follow post-operative advice and take advantage of ongoing aftercare for best results. Transform's dedicated weight loss support team will look after you throughout your journey, so whether you had gastric band, gastric bypass, or gastric sleeve surgery, we’re here to help you reach your weight loss and fitness goals.
