Preparing for surgery that causes drastic changes to your weight should never be a blindsiding event. Though the path to weight loss surgery has many important steps, we’re here to help you walk them out.
Surprisingly, preparing for weight loss surgery doesn’t just involve focusing on the physicality of your body. It actually calls for mental preparation. At The Bariatric Experts, we understand how preparing for weight loss surgery works. Dr. Scott Stowers and our team are here to walk you through the steps, so you feel ready for your procedure.
Here are some key elements to your preparation:
Your surgery is the beginning of your weight loss journey. Though the surgery makes your stomach smaller, your body needs time to adjust to the change before you begin to see results.
You also need to understand that your path to losing weight is your own. Don’t compare your experience to others’ journey toward a similar goal. Know that your surgery is unique to your circumstances, weight, age, and gender.
Also, different weight loss surgeries, such as gastric sleeve and gastric bypass, can produce different results that include how much weight you lose and how quickly.
During your time of losing weight after your surgery, you might hit a plateau that causes you to stop losing for a while, which can be normal.
The good news is that we walk with you every step of the way. Throughout your weight loss journey, we’re here to monitor your progress and help answer any questions you might have.
In addition to having the support of our team, we encourage and recommend that you surround yourself with people who can help you stay motivated. Bring them in and show them your weight loss goals. Ask them to celebrate milestones with you as you track your weight loss.
You also want to be able to share your frustrations or down days with them, so they can be there to lift you up and help you keep your eye on the finish line.
You can also tap into our resources that can give you guidance and encouragement, such as videos or a virtual support group.
Before you have weight loss surgery, it’s important to recognize any food addictions you might have. We can help you understand your relationship with food and talk to you about how to make healthy choices.
Also, if you’re an emotional eater, this needs to be addressed before your surgery. With bariatric surgery, your stomach shrinks, so turning to food won’t be your answer to fulfilling your emotional needs anymore.
Learning how to manage your emotions and manage your food can pave a much smoother path for you after you have your surgery.
Staying focused on how your surgery can change your life can keep you motivated. Just think — losing weight can give you a high quality of life and provide numerous benefits like improved heart health, joint pain relief, and no more hypertension — just to name a few!
In addition to preparing mentally for your weight loss surgery, we provide you with detailed pre-surgery instructions, what to bring with you, and what to expect after your surgery.
To learn more, or if you have any questions about your upcoming weight loss surgery, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call any of our offices in Frisco, or Abilene, Texas, at 940-577-2090, or book an appointment online. We’re also available via email at tbe@expertsurgical.com.
