"Comparison is the Thief of Joy" - You may have heard that saying before but haven’t really contemplated what it means in regards to the joy in your bariatric surgery journey. Before we even begin our personal weight-loss journey, we often use a comparison in the journeys of others. We get
The decision to have bariatric surgery often follows a significant period of struggle with weight and associated health conditions. The allure of “lose weight fast” fad diets have faded. You realize that you have to do something to gain control of your health. The time you have put into research,
When I first met her before weight loss surgery, “Beth” (not her real name) was excited and hopeful that losing 150 pounds would give her a new lease on life. Specifically, she thought that losing weight would improve her self-esteem, give her the self-confidence she’d never had, and make her
Self-care is a major buzz-word these days as we all try to manage our sanity and our health despite busy schedules and competing demands. But it might be hard to know, what exactly is self-care anyway? You may mistake a massage, a night out with your buddies, or indulging in
Weight loss surgery (WLS) or bariatric surgery is one of the most promising interventions for morbid obesity. However, changing eating habits after the surgery can prove challenging to individuals who emotionally eat. Furthermore, according to research, the general tendency to eat in response to negative emotions is related to poor
For Part 3, let's jump in and start working on the 3rd and final "C" of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Model (CBT) “CHANGE the thought to a more accurate or helpful one as needed.” (Part 1 and Part 2) Wouldn't it be nice if the surgery you had your stomach automatically
Are you in the cycle of deprivation and don't realize it? Take this time to think about your experiences and how, if or when you deprive yourself, do you crave more? Do you overeat more? Do you negotiate more? Do you win the negotiations? Do you gain weight long term through
Successful obesity treatment must include the missing piece of headwork. Developing and maintaining a healthy mindset is just as important as healthy nutrition and exercise. However, as discussed in my first article of this series, too many bariatric surgery patients are missing this integral part of their treatment plan. Living
What is Depression? Before we discuss the effects of depression after bariatric surgery, it is important to understand what depression really is. Many people confuse sadness for depression, but they are actually very different things. Everyone gets sad from time to time, and this is a perfectly normal part of
The father of analytical psychology, Carl Jung, is credited with saying, ”I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” This well-known statement is indicative of reality, hope, and empowerment. A modern translation of it would be, “It’s not what happens to you, it’s how
