Power in Non-Scale Victories

The Power in Non-Scale Victories After WLS

August 7, 2023

Have you ever felt like you’re on top of the world but then stepped on the scale and felt utterly defeated? Bariatric patients often lose an impressive amount of weight quickly after their surgery, especially in the beginning of their weight loss journey. It can become too easy to get completely obsessed (and become disheartened) over the number reflected back on the scale. When stalls happen, they can be depressing. Some might even see it as a failure if they don’t reach a specific number – but this is far from the truth. The scale is only one measurement of health and progress! Here are 8 other ways you can measure and celebrate your progress and power in non-scale victories after WLS:

8 Ways to Give You The Power in Non-Scale Victories After WLS

Progress Photos

If you haven’t begun taking photos of yourself now, we recommend that you start! Sometimes the number on the scale won’t reflect the physical changes in your body, but work-in-progress pictures can really help you see the difference. A picture is worth 1000 biomarkers! When the number refuses to budge, do a side-by-side comparison with a recent photo. Just seeing the difference your hard work has made will make you forget about the scale and can give you that extra motivation and self-esteem to boost you on to achieve your goals. Here are some tips to take great high-quality before-and-after weight loss photos:

  • Wear clothing that flatters your figure and provides the best views of contours of your waist, stomach, and thighs (for later gauging weight loss).
  • Take photos in a neutral setting free of clutter. A white wall or light-colored background works well.
  • Ask a close friend or family member to take the photos. Unless you have a timer and a tripod that allows you to get into position and generate high-quality photos.
  • Stand up straight and have pictures from the front, back, and side. And then a close-up face shot. These positions will allow for best tracking of your weight loss progress from a visual standpoint.
  • Take photos of yourself on the same day every month while you take body measurements. Taking photos and tracking measurements synonymously will help you pinpoint where you’re losing the most weight and revealing where you can focus during workouts.

Decrease in Body Measurements

When you have gastric bypass surgery or other similar bariatric operations, you aren’t just losing pounds – you’re also losing inches of your body. It isn’t unusual to lose body fat but not see the scale shift very much; however, you’ll know that you’ve made progress if you notice that you can fit into smaller spaces that you once struggled with in the past, like airplane seats or booths at your favorite restaurant. Take weekly or monthly measurements of your chest, arms, waist, hips, and thighs and keep them in a journal. You might be surprised by what you see! Using a tape measure: Pull the tape measurer snug but not overly tight. The best places to record, measure, and gauge changes in body composition with a tape measure are:

  • Neck: Measure around the base of the neck
  • Bust/Chest: Measure around the chest – right across the nipple line.
  • Waist: Measure right across your belly button.
  • Hips: Place tape measure around the widest part around your buttocks.
  • Thighs: Measure around the biggest part of each thigh.
  • Arms: Measure around the biggest part of the upper arm.

Change in Clothing Sizes

This is an incredible non-scale victory that can have you feeling like you’re on Cloud 9. When your clothes begin to feel loose or you find yourself going from a size 14 to a size 10, you experience a rush of happiness and pride. Knowing that you can begin shopping in clothing stores that you could not in the past and seeing your fashion options open into seemingly endless possibilities is a feeling that no number on the scale can match!

Also, while quickly losing weight, find options that will work well with your budget. How to find clothes that fit after weight loss surgery:

  • Shop in your closet. Find things that may have been too small before!
  • Buy the minimum. Your size may change often.
  • Consider alterations with your current wardrobe.
  • Buy the basics (shirts and pants), embrace versatile items, and then accessorize.
  • Shop Consignment, Thrift Stores, and Garage Sales.
  • Wear items that can be used to alter sizes. Wear belts to wrangle in dresses or shirts.
  • Buy items that can be used for multiple sizes. Certain types of dresses that are non-fitting or pants that are stretchy.

Less or Discontinued Reliance on Medication

There’s nothing more liberating than being able to come off a medication, especially if you’ve had to take it for years. If you find yourself not needing to take insulin or being able to get off medication for diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, you can absolutely add to your power of non-scale victories!

Periodic blood tests can help you stay in check!

Improved Health

Zero in on your current health condition for a moment. Has your doctor shown you that your blood pressure or A1c has improved? Do you find yourself experiencing lessened joint pain or a greater quality of sleep? Do you no longer need your CPAP machine? Improving your health is such a great measure of success, even if the scale hasn’t been budging! And good news for those wanting to get pregnant – you may see improved fertility as well!

  • Blood pressure - According to the national guidelines and recent research, losing weight can lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure - and potentially eliminate high blood pressure. For every 20 pounds you lose, you can drop systolic pressure 5-20 points. An arm cuff is recommended over a wrist cuff. Make sure the size is appropriate to assure a quality reading. Most should have a size guide on the cuff.
  • Blood Test (s) – A primary care provider may recommend having blood tests prior to any weight loss program. Some essentials tests that may gauge the effect your weight loss or may be a gauge as you lose weight may include chemistry profile, blood sugar testing (and/or HgbA1C), cholesterol/lipid levels, TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) level, and vitamin levels (i.e. iron, vitamin D, and potentially others).
  • Make sure and check with your Primary Care Provider or Pulmonologist before shutting off your CPAP machine. If the mask isn’t fitting or you find that you feel you no longer need the machine, they can give you resources and/or do additional testing to verify. 

Increased Energy Levels

After you have weight loss surgery, you might feel a bit surprised by how much more energy you have. You might be able to try new activities you were once too tired to try, keep up with your kids more easily, or knock out tasks on your to-do list like a champ. Even if you’re feeling frustrated with the scale, you should absolutely count the seemingly boundless energy you feel as a success!

  • Notice your sleep habits and how much less rest you need.
  • Notice how much further you can walk or run.
  • Notice your energy levels as you move up or down steps!

Greater Mobility

Speaking of having more energy, you should also probably be finding it easier to get around now that you’ve lost weight. Although the scale might remain stubborn, you can find joy in being able to move more freely and participate in events you might not have been able to previously. You can also rejoice in knowing that your hips, knees, and ankles have much less pressure on them when you move!

Improved Self-Esteem

Many people see weight loss as strictly physical, but the truth is that one’s weight loss journey is also heavily a mental game. When you lose weight, you begin feeling more comfortable in your own skin, which can help your self-esteem soar. You often find yourself becoming a happier, more positive person with fewer limitations. No matter what the scale says, this improved quality of life is something to be celebrated! It is about:

  • Appreciating all the amazing things that your body does for you - your breathing and heartbeat are prime examples!
  • Looking in the mirror and seeing the positive things you recognize about yourself. These can be as simple as having a bright smile or the color of your eyes. And then remembering that beauty is in the soul as well; the amazing inner aspects of yourself.

In summary, remember the power of non-scale victories are just as important as the ones that we see on the scale. Those include changes in your body overall (photos can attest to those), a decrease in body size and measurements, change in clothing size, decreased need for relying on medications to keep your health in check, improvements in health (like blood pressure, cholesterol, HgA1c, and no longer needing a CPAP machine), increased energy levels, mobility, and self-esteem.

Brenda Hoehn MSN, BSN, RN, CHTP is a bariatric nurse and currently works in the bariatric vitamin industry with ProCare Health 

Power in Non-Scale Victories
Brenda Hoehn

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brenda Hoehn MSN, BSN, RN, CHTP is a bariatric nurse and has worked with thousands of bariatric surgery patients pre- and post-op. She has certifications in both life-coaching and Healing Touch (holistic health). She currently works in the bariatric vitamin industry with ProCare Health whereas she offers bariatric LIVE topics weekly & Support Groups for patients and facilities. She intertwines all of this including her own incredible bariatric surgery journey – VSG in 2013.