Not only have you taken that giant step toward making your stomach smaller through surgery, but you have also committed to making long-term lifestyle changes in terms of diet and exercise that will help you lose weight and stay healthy for years to come.
Weight-loss surgery is just your first step toward becoming healthier and improving your quality of life — the rest lies up to you and your motivation.
Get started on your journey to weight loss by following these innovative and motivational weight-loss tips!
Write down a list of all the reasons why you want to lose weight
Writing down a list of reasons behind why you want to lose weight can actually help you commit to your goals, and can serve as a constant reminder about why you decided to undergo bariatric surgery in the first place. Are you losing weight so you can look and feel sexy again? Do you want to prolong your life by becoming healthier? Do you want to walk up flights of stairs without losing your breath? Write down every reason that comes to mind, and review the list when you feel like you need extra weight-loss motivation.
Buy new, amazing clothes in smaller sizes
Buying clothes in smaller sizes turns weight loss into a serious commitment — just like weight-loss surgery. Seeing smaller clothes that look amazing hanging in your closet will motivate you to lose weight sooner so you can fit into your new outfit! Make sure you are realistic with buying clothing sizes so it doesn’t have the opposite effect on your well-being.
For example, if you wear a women’s size 16, buy clothing in sizes 14 or 12, which are far more achievable short-term goal sizes compared to sizes 4 and 6.
Reward yourself often throughout your weight-loss journey
Small rewards here and there will help you stay focused and prevent you from being distracted and from experiencing any major diet or exercise setbacks. If you enjoy food, reward yourself once per week with a small portion of your favorite meal or dessert. Or, reward yourself with an item related to your weight-loss plans, such as a new piece of workout clothing, a new music album, or new exercise equipment.
Avoid stepping on the scale
Losing pounds is great, but remember that as your body begins to change as a result of diet and exercise, you could be gaining pounds of muscle before you start losing pounds of fat. Focus on clothing sizes and body measurements instead. If you’re losing inches from your waistline and fitting into smaller clothing sizes, then you’re doing great at losing weight! Either way, don’t let the scale stress you out. Just keep focusing on your current diet and exercise routine.
Spend more time with healthy people who value exercise and health
Research shows that people are subconsciously influenced by the people they spend time with. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should stop spending time with people who eat too much or don’t exercise, but keep in mind that their behaviors could influence you to veer away from your diet and exercise plan. If you can, try to branch out and meet new friends who may also be trying to lose weight, or who enjoy exercising and eating clean. Your brain will soon begin to acknowledge that these types of behaviors are “normal,” which can really impact your weight-loss efforts.
If you are interested in weight loss surgery, check out MBL’s Ultimate Guide To Weight Loss Surgery.
