Ep 22: Fostering Self-Compassion After WLS
This post is a companion to Episode 22 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
This episode is a little different — we are not talking about food directly. We are talking about self-compassion, and I believe it is one of the most important and underrated topics in the bariatric journey.
Years of dieting — with all its rules, judgment, good days and bad days — creates a default way of thinking that is deeply unkind to ourselves. When we bring that mindset into our post-surgery journey, it makes everything harder. Self-compassion is not about lowering the bar. It is about being kind to yourself in hard moments so you can keep going.
What Self-Compassion Actually Means
Psychologist Dr Kristin Neff describes self-compassion as treating yourself the way you would treat a good friend during a difficult time — stopping to ask "how can I comfort and care for myself in this moment?" rather than pushing through with a stiff upper lip or beating yourself up.
The Comparison Trap
Comparing your progress to others is one of the biggest barriers to self-compassion. Everyone's bariatric journey looks different. If certain accounts or posts on social media make you feel worse about yourself, that is information. Unfollow, limit, and protect your mental space.
Three Practical Ways to Foster Self-Compassion
Ask: "What advice would I give a friend?" When you are going through something hard, pause and ask what you would say to a close friend in the same situation. Then actually take that advice.
Reach out to someone who understands. You do not have to do this alone. Think about who in your life — or your support community — really gets what you are going through.
Keep a self-compassion journal. A space to practice meeting hard moments with kindness rather than criticism. The more you practise, the more it becomes your default.
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