Ep 76: Fear of Failing After Bariatric Surgery
This post is a companion to Episode 76 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Fear of failing after bariatric surgery is one of the most common things I see — and chances are, you know exactly what I mean. In this episode I want to talk about where it comes from, how it shows up, and how to harness it rather than be paralysed by it.
Where the Fear Comes From
Most people who choose bariatric surgery have been on a long journey of trying to manage their weight. Years of dieting, programs, medications. Some success, but the weight always returned. By the time surgery is on the table, it is generally not anyone's first choice — it is the option people arrive at after exhausting others. Research suggests the average person considers bariatric surgery for around two years before taking that step.
With that background of trying and feeling like you have not succeeded, it makes complete sense that you would be afraid surgery might not work for you either. I have even heard of a bariatric surgeon — someone who had performed countless successful procedures — sharing that he feared his own surgery would not work for him. That is how deeply human this fear is.
How It Shows Up
Fear of failure can show up as being afraid to tell people about your surgery (in case it does not work). It can look like not fully committing to habits because part of you is holding back, protecting yourself from disappointment. It can look like measuring success only by the scales — where any slowdown feels like evidence the surgery is failing.
How to Harness It
The fear itself is not the enemy — it is information. It tells you how much this matters to you. The key is not to eliminate the fear but to act alongside it. Name it. Share it with someone you trust. And then take one step anyway — because action is the antidote to fear. Every habit you build, every meal you eat well, every time you reach out for support instead of going it alone is proof that this time is different. Because the tool is different. And because you are different too.
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Listen to the full conversation on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and subscribe so you never miss a new episode every Monday!