Ep 86: Bariatric Surgery | Why Is Self-Care So Hard?
This post is a companion to Episode 86 of the Bariatric Nutrition Coach Podcast. Listen to the full episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
I talk about self-care constantly with my clients — because I genuinely believe that the bariatric journey, at its core, is a self-care journey. Not a weight loss journey. A self-care journey. In this episode I want to explore why self-care is so hard for so many people, and what we can do about it.
What Self-Care Actually Means
When we hear "self-care," we often think bubble baths and massages. And while those are wonderful, that is not what I am talking about. Self-care, in the context of your bariatric journey, is defined simply as: actions taken to maintain and enhance your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Taking your vitamins. Eating regularly. Drinking enough fluid. Moving your body. Getting adequate sleep. Processing your emotions. Asking for help when you need it. These are acts of self-care. And they are exactly what your bariatric journey requires.
Why It Feels So Hard
Most of my clients find self-care genuinely difficult. Not because they are selfish or do not understand its importance — but because they have spent years, often decades, putting everyone and everything else first. Children, partners, work, family. Their own needs have come last for so long that prioritising themselves feels uncomfortable, even selfish. And beneath that, for many people, is a deeper belief: "I do not deserve to be looked after."
That belief — conscious or not — is worth examining. Because you absolutely do deserve it. And getting the most out of your bariatric surgery requires you to be on your own priority list.
One Reflection Question
I invite you to sit with this question — perhaps journal on it: What stops me from allowing myself the time and effort to look after myself the way I look after others? What comes up for you is important. And it is the beginning of shifting something that has held you back for far too long.
Your bariatric journey can be the moment you decide that you matter. That looking after yourself is not a luxury — it is a necessity. And that the better you care for yourself, the more you have to give to everyone else in your life.
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