This simply works as a guide and helps you to connect with doctors of your choice. Please confirm the doctor’s availability before leaving your premises.
Emergency bariatric care may be needed if you experience severe abdominal pain, complications from weight loss surgery, or symptoms of nutritional deficiencies.
You had surgery. You are 6, 7, and 8 months post-op now. You have lost a lot of weight but you are still not at your goal. You are getting there … Your diet has greatly improved. You’ve stopped drinking soda. You have started exercising. Things are going really well.
I am so happy for you.
I am still going to ask you something. “What can you do to improve”?
I celebrate you and all the goals you are accomplishing but I want to keep you focused on what lies ahead. Your weight loss is going to drastically slow down as you get closer to your goal weight. This is not the time to lose focus. This is the time to double down on your efforts.
Remember, YOU are in charge of your weight loss. It’s not your bariatric tool. It is YOU. You get to decide if you want to lose more weight, or if you want to stay where you are. That’s all up to you.
I have some ideas. Are you drinking enough water? Are you hitting your protein goals with “real” food, not supplemental protein? Are you snacking or grazing? What does your exercise routine look like? What does your sleep routine look like? Are you meal planning? Are you drinking your calories? How are your stress levels? Have you added back carb-laden foods? Are you food logging?
I think “checking in” with yourself weekly can be a good habit. You don’t have to attack the entire list above. Just pick one or two things and work on that. It’s not “all or nothing”. It’s just making sure to move forward and not backward.
For example, I’ve been going to bed too late. I’m going to wind it down earlier this week. I am not focusing on my water intake and I can do better.
We don’t have to completely rehaul our lives. We can just look for little improvements along the way. Do a periodic check-in. Ask yourself some questions and be honest with your answers.
The journey doesn’t end. It changes along the way.
Healthy Hugs,
About the Author: Sheri Burkeis a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Bariatric Surgery Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery clients for over 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric clients.In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens and cooking up a nutritional storm in the kitchen.
I know that meal-planning can be overwhelming. Doesn’t have to be…..
Who says we can’t repeat meals? This eliminates food waste and it’s a great way to spend LESS time in the kitchen.
All the portions here are measured out with the “smaller bariatric tummy” in mind.
The meals included here are all high protein and low in carbohydrates.
I prepared this meal plan with a bit of intermittent fasting in mind. Who says we need to “break our fast” at 8am sharp? I personally don’t eat before noon. Sometimes I go for eggs but often I open my eating window with a protein salad.
The caloric intake in this meal plan is low. Why? I want you to choose a healthy snack to add to this meal plan. You have the space to do so.
If you follow my 7 day meal plan, you will be happy you did. Adios to all those sugar cravings. See ya later “swollen gut”. Buh Bye mid-afternoon sluggishness.
Call it a vacation. Call it work. Call it a work-ation … I always have the very BEST intentions – and then “French fries and bagels” happen.
This blog touches home because I am coming off of a “work-cation” – a little bit of work, a little bit of vacation, and a lot of LIFE can get in the way.
Sure, I am going to be a good girl. I am not going to eat C$%#. I am going to exercise while I am away from home/the office. I am focused. I’ve got this …. Until I don’t.
What now? What if your plans get changed and your diet goes haywire? Do you just say F-it and fall down the pasta slide? No No No.
Look, there are going to be times when you will eat the bagel. Tell you what, you don’t need to fall ALL the way down and dust yourself off 2 weeks later. Make the next meal better. It’s just that easy. Go for a long walk. Stretch. Eat a salad. Go for a swim. It isn’t the end of the world if you eat French fries.
Don’t have the “all or nothing” mentality, please. If your breakfast isn’t perfect, have a chicken salad for lunch and get over it. Get back on plan. Be kind to yourself. You are doing your best and you are only human. Tell your internal voice to “be quiet”. This is life and you are human.
I see you and I understand. I know that there are so many perfect people out there on social media, sharing their perfect ideas. Guess what …. Bagels happen to them also. They just choose to show you their perfect meals.
A little bit of grace. You are perfect as you are.
Healthy Hugs,
About the Author: Sheri Burkeis a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Bariatric Surgery Coordinator at International Patient Facilitators in Tijuana and Cancun, Mexico. She has worked with bariatric surgery clients for over 10 years and especially enjoys providing nutritional guidance to pre and post bariatric clients.In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two teens and cooking up a nutritional storm in the kitchen.
