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 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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