Learn how to get your family's support following weight-loss surgery, and get advice on making healthy living a family affair.
So, the kids made out great on Halloween this year and now you're sitting and staring at a big bowl of candy on the kitchen counter on a daily basis wondering when it's all going to go away. The kids have had a week or so to indulge (and so have you!), so now what do you do with all of those little packages of empty calories? Letting the candy sit around as a constant temptation is not only difficult for you, but not a good idea for the kids either.
Spending quality time with family is a highlight of most people's lives. Despite our hectic schedules, we relish the time when we have a chance to share the highs and lows of our day with our spouse, to have a few uninterrupted minutes to catch up with the kids, or to have a few laughs as a family. One great way to spend some quality time with our spouses and kids, while sticking to our commitment to lead a healthier life following weight loss surgery, is to start walking together.
Studies have shown that there are numerous benefits to sitting down to eat dinner together as a family as often as possible. Eating together as a family has been linked to positive outcomes for children, such as better grades, better manners, and a stronger connection to their parents. When a family sits down to eat meals together, children are often exposed to healthier foods and a wider selection of foods as well.
Weight loss surgery affects more than just the person having the surgery — it affects the whole family. One aspect of making the decision to have weight loss surgery that sometimes weighs heavily on people's minds is how to explain it to children. Depending on the ages of the children, many people choose to approach that discussion differently.
One of the greatest aspects of weight loss surgery, in addition to the many health benefits it can provide, is the change it can bring in family dynamics. Patients that undergo WLS not only feel better physically and have higher self esteem, but they have more energy to enjoy one of the most important things in their life, such as their family.
