Big losses are going to occur when you get a lot of the different components correct. This is an important part of the equation. Post bariatric surgery, clients lose weight due to primarily the restriction they feel and the food choices they are making but when stalls and plateaus occur, there are other places we can look to improve upon to keep the scale moving in the right direction.
A perfect nutritional regime is so important but sometimes we need to make some tweaks to get the best results. When you put the other pieces into place, the best results can be achieved.
Here are my top contenders to keep moving in the right direction !
Walking – We don’t need to over-complicate it in the beginning. We just need to get moving more and walking is the perfect way to start. Open the door and get outdoors and walk in one direction for 15 minutes and then turn around and walk back. Don’t aim for a 5 or 10K walk in the beginning, just get outdoors and move. This will help shift the scale but it’s also the best thing for your mood and your overall well being. We all have time for this. Put yourself first and go for a walk please.
Sleeping – Sleeping is so under-rated and I believe that it’s the best free medicine that we can give ourselves. If you are not getting enough sleep, then it’s going to be difficult to lose the weight you need to lose. If you diet is great and you are walking each day and the weight loss has stalled, take a hard look at your sleep patterns. This is real folks. If you are not getting at least 7 hours of sleep at night, you could be stalling your scale. If you are having trouble sleeping, have a look at your sleep patterns and what you can do to improve them. Turn off the TV, put down the phone, stop scrolling and make your bedroom an easier place to fall asleep.
De-Stressing – I know that we all live each day with a certain amount of stress. Yup, we all have it. But what can we do to de-stress ? Look at the first two suggestions above 1/walking 2/sleeping – and try to put these two into action. Sleeping more and walking each day will both help with your stress levels. Take a hard look at what you are winning by being in a constant state of stress and take control of your emotions. The first step to de-stressing is to admit that you are stressed in the first place. Next, determine the reasons why you feel this way and take corrective action to try to put yourself first and remove yourself from the stress. Nothing is accomplished by walking around every day in a cloud of stress. Your cortisol levels will be high and you will be unable to lose weight. This is also real folks ! Put yourself first and manage your stress levels please.
I know it is tough to get all the pieces right. But I also know that if your diet is in check and the scale is still not moving, then it is time to look at the other ways we can help our bodies to make the desired changes. I struggle with stress so I know that if my diet is too high in sugar, or I am not being as active as I can – then my sleep will be affected and it’s a vicious cycle. This is the time to sit down and have a discussion with ourselves and to see what areas can be improved upon. Don’t throw your hands in the air and stick your head in the sand. We have come this far so let’s keep moving forward. These small changes can have a huge impact.
I believe in you !
About the Author: Sheri Burke is 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.
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