Do you exhibit the following bad eating habits that cause weight gain after bariatric surgery? If the answer to these questions keeps coming up yes, you may want to hit the reset button. Your eating habits are self-defeating, and that glint you spy from the corner of your eye is your relapse.
- Do you graze? That is, do you snack or eat small amounts of food over the full course of a day? If so, how often do you engage in this habit? Daily? Weekly? Monthly?
- Do you eat mindlessly? Are you unaware as to whether or not you or actually hungry or unaware as to whether or not you have become full but continue to eat anyway?
- Do you eat while standing in front of the refrigerator? If so, how often do you do it?
- Do you eat while watching television, tapping away on the lap-top keyboard, or driving to work? Again, if so, how often do you do any of these things?
Weight Regain After Gastric Bypass Surgery
About 20% of gastric bypass patients experience substantial post-surgery weight gain. Patients must be particularly careful at the one-year mark because after their striking weight loss the appetite they once had simply can return. In fact, my appetite returned within a few months after my gastric bypass surgery.
Much of the problem regarding weight regain after bariatric surgery is because patients simply do not monitor themselves very well.
Stress situations such as divorce or death of a family member can lead to weight gain. Inadequate preparation for the experience of a thinner self also can be a culprit.
Seeking comfort through eating is yet another cause for weight regain. Weight loss surgery alone cannot resolve any of the emotional issues that may have been present prior to the surgery.
Last but hardly least, bariatric patients often regain weight simply because they engage in eating habits that are destructive.
Bad Eating Habits and the Bariatric Patient
Much of the problem regarding weight regain after bariatric surgery is because patients simply do not monitor themselves very well.
A disciplined and thoughtful approach about how, when, and what you eat will help to avoid the pitfalls of poor choices, rather than making it up as you go.
A potential scenario for an all out crash and burn would be the bariatric patient who attends a social gathering unprepared. She heads for the Memorial Day barbeque at her close friend’s house without having eaten something before she leaves home. She is hungry on the drive over and has not even brought along a bottle of spring water to help curb her appetite.
When she arrives, she greets her hostess and goes directly to the buffet table, picks up one of the large plates and begins to fill it while chatting with friends. She picks only traditional barbeque foods and side dishes. She begins eating while remaining at the buffet table and chatting away. When she finally takes a seat, it is directly across from where the food is laid out. Not only can see all the dishes that have been prepared but she can see them at all times.
And while we’re at it, an alcoholic beverage might taste quiet nice before dessert, wouldn’t it?
This is a recipe for disaster, friends… it can set you on a course for failure.
Tips for Avoiding Bad Eating Habits
A disciplined and thoughtful approach about how, when, and what you eat will help to avoid the pitfalls of poor choices, rather than making it up as you go.
- Plan and record your meals in a diet journal, and eat according to the plan. FitDay.com is one of the free tools I use to plan my ideal bariatric meals.
- Substitute bariatric-friendly versions of your favorite party foods. Need ideas? Enjoy any of my suggested grain-free low-carb Summer picnics.
- Snack healthy on lean proteins and veggies and do not graze.
- Buy only healthy foods when grocery shopping, and do not shop when you are feeling hungry.
- Do not guess the weight of your meals. Measure it out with a scale.
- Use small plates and utensils when eating. Cut your food into small pieces and chew thoroughly.
- Avoid emotional eating and watching too much television. Learn how to address the desire for emotional eating when it presents.
- Exercise routinely.
- Follow the pouch rules!
These are but a few suggestions, but they are a good start.
Living larger than ever,
My Bariatric Life
