Ep 13: Struggled to Build Healthy Habits Before Bariatric Surgery? That Doesn't Mean You Can't Now
This post is a companion to Episode 13 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
This episode is a pep talk. And if you've spent years trying — and struggling — to build healthy habits before your weight loss surgery, this one is especially for you.
I've worked with so many women who arrive at their bariatric journey battle-worn. Years of dieting, years of trying and not succeeding, and now entering surgery feeling like it's their last shot. They carry phrases like "I've never been able to keep a regular eating schedule" or "I always end up back at old habits" as though they're facts about who they are. They're not.
A New Way of Looking at Your Surgery
Here's the analogy I love to use. Imagine your bariatric surgery is a brand new car. You have two choices from the moment you get in.
You can push the automatic button — sit back and let the car do everything for you. It works beautifully for a while. But eventually, it stops. And when it does, you don't know how to drive.
Or you can push the manual button. There's more to learn upfront, yes. But this car actively helps you learn. It supports you. It makes the learning easier. And when the assistance gradually fades over time — as it does for everyone — you already know how to drive. You know how to get back on track when life pushes you off course.
The Opportunity Right Now
When bariatric surgery is doing what it does best — in those early and medium days post-op — it is an extraordinary opportunity to establish healthy habits. Your appetite is reduced. Your relationship with food is shifting. The tool is at its most powerful. This is the time to leverage it.
You have never had this tool before. The fact that you struggled with habits before surgery doesn't tell us anything about what's possible now. It's a new game — with a powerful ally in your corner.
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