It’s All About You – Bariatric Edition

This is all about YOU and not about THEM.
 
Hey! Sometimes it needs to be said. Today I am going to say it. 

Let’s stop looking down at the scale and beating ourselves up while stressing ourselves out!

Folks, enjoy your journey and stop comparing what “so and so” is weighing or how much “so and so” is losing. 



COMPARISON IS THE THIEF OF JOY.

We’ve made sacrifices to have our bariatric surgery. We’ve paid a great deal of money to get this done. We’ve had fights with our family and friends. We’ve boarded airplanes and traveled across the country. We have had our bodies modified. That’s a BIG DEAL.

Now, let’s collectively enjoy the journey. I promise you that this is not a race. This is a marathon. Let’s say you get to your goal weight tomorrow. That’s wonderful and I salute you, but you probably already know this … maintenance is a bi#*ch. She’s also a struggle. It’s not just some kind of magic that you get to maintenance and then stop worrying. Nope. It’s just a different kind of worry now. It becomes a different ballgame but nonetheless, it requires work to maintain your goal weight.

I want all of us to take a little break from looking DOWN at the scale and getting soooo caught up in the numbers. We have the morning weigh-in, the ounces of water, the grams of protein, carbs, and fat. It’s a long list of numbers that can begin to make us feel crazy. It can even take the joy out of our accomplishments. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others who are on this same weight loss journey. 

Now, where is the fun in all of this? When did it get so competitive? Why don’t we just stop, and breathe, and smell the roses, and do a victory dance for all the NSV moments that we are allowing to pass by? 



Celebrate all your victories! Not just the numbers!

What about the wedding ring that fits again, or your favorite jeans that fit again! What about the fact that your feet are getting smaller or the fact that you can cross your legs comfortably! How about your favorite person putting their arms around you and telling you how tiny you are feeling! The steering wheel in the car … isn’t it more comfortable now? 

Hey, what about the last time you visited with your doctor and they got to tell you how great your labs are looking! What about your energy levels, and your improved sleeping patterns?

Do you know that person who lost 90 pounds in 4 months? Well, they may have started at a very different point. They may have been 400 or 500 pounds when they started their pre-op diet. You cannot expect to lose the same amount of weight as them.

Do you know that girl who lost 20 more pounds than you did over the past 3 months? Well, she may be 15 years younger than you are. She is going to lose weight more quickly.

Do you know the person who is ahead of you by 20 pounds? Well, they may be walking a 10K each day. Their activity level may be completely different from yours.

Why are we killing ourselves and trying to compete against people who we will NEVER beat? Let them win. Encourage them. You Do You Boo!!

Instead of looking over your shoulder, or looking down at the scale, look UP. Look straight ahead. There’s nothing for you on the ground. This is your amazing journey. Who cares if it takes three months more than it took Karen to lose her weight? 

Collectively, like bariatric-bad-ass-bosses, we need to sometimes take a little break from those numbers. We need to eat more intuitively. Let’s try something together… let’s put away the scale and weigh ourselves twice a week. Check your weight on Monday, and then check it again on Friday. 

I’ve been speaking to clients who are stepping on the scale 3 and 4 and 5 times a day! Why??? Please don’t do this to yourselves. It will only drive you crazy. It will make this journey unbearable. It will make you cry. Don’t fall into this trap.

If you have a stall, you have a stall. It’s such a normal part of the journey. If you are following a good diet, and making healthy choices, there is no reason why the stall will last more than a few weeks. Just keep doing what you are doing. Rinse and repeat. Make sure to increase your protein food (not supplemental protein), drink sufficient fluids, take a walk each day, sleep 7 to 8 hours a night, stay away from the snacks, stay away from the processed and refined carbohydrates.

Now, look up, not down! Look at how far you have come! Make this journey about YOU, and not about anyone else.

I am so proud of you. You are doing such a great job.

Healthy Hugs,

Sheri Burke – your bariatric RHN