Ep 39: WLS Nutrition | Eating Cycles After Bariatric Surgery
This post is a companion to Episode 39 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Have you ever wondered which "eating cycle" you're in right now? In this episode I break down the three eating cycles that I work through with every client — and ask you to reflect honestly on where you recognise yourself.
The Restrictive Eating Cycle
This is the dieting cycle. It's driven by rules — good foods, bad foods, allowed amounts, activity requirements. In this cycle you're not listening to your body; you're following external guidelines. It can feel very heavy and all-consuming, and you simply cannot stay in it indefinitely. At some point, your body will drive you out of it.
The Overeating Cycle
This is what usually follows restriction. You're triggered by emotions, environmental cues, or just exhaustion from the rules. You eat quickly, mindlessly, and often secretly. You eat past the point of comfort. Shame and guilt follow — and then the cycle pushes you back into restriction. This is the yo-yo pattern that most people recognise from years of dieting.
The Intuitive and Mindful Eating Cycle
This is the goal. In this cycle, food is fuel and enjoyment. You eat regularly, in line with your hunger and fullness cues. You eat what you genuinely enjoy — and you plate your meals in a way that naturally keeps protein front and centre. You stop when satisfied. You have strategies for managing emotional eating. And when you drift off track, you notice and bring yourself back — without shame.
Does this happen overnight? No. After years in the other two cycles, it takes time and practice. But it's absolutely possible — and it's the only approach that's truly sustainable for life after bariatric surgery.
As you listen or read, I invite you to reflect: which cycle do you most often find yourself in? And what would it take to spend more time in the third?
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