Protecting Your Heart: Bariatric Self-Love
By Renetta Weaver | Feb 8, 2023

Picture by Unsplash
We all have days where we don’t feel confident or beautiful, but recent research has
highlighted the importance of having a healthy self-image in order to maintain a healthy
lifestyle. Protecting your heart doesn’t just mean following a balanced diet – it also
means protecting and nurturing your emotional well-being. Bariatric self-love is the
practice of learning to love yourself through self-care and understanding, no matter your
body type or size.
Bariatric self-love involves making lifestyle changes that prioritize your own well-being
and emotional health. It is essential for those seeking bariatric surgery, as it can help
improve mental preparation before and after the procedure, as well as provide long-term
support for overall wellness. Bariatric self-love requires you to make yourself a priority
by setting boundaries, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in activities that promote
positive emotions. Below is more information on how setting boundaries, practicing
mindfulness, and engaging in activities can support bariatric weight loss.
Setting Boundaries
When it comes to bariatric weight loss, boundaries are key. Whether you’re considering
bariatric surgery, or seeking a more holistic approach to losing weight, setting and
maintaining boundaries is essential for achieving long-term success. Boundaries are an
important part of any weight loss program because they help you stay focused and
motivated while establishing healthy habits.
Boundaries can include anything from limiting your portion size at meals to avoiding
unhealthy foods that may lead to overeating or binging. If you’re considering bariatric
surgery, it’s also important to set clear expectations with your doctor about the
procedure, recovery time, and post-operative care. You should also be realistic about
what types of activities and lifestyle changes will be necessary in order for the surgery
to be successful.
Practicing Mindfulness
Mindfulness is quickly becoming an important part of bariatric weight loss, with
numerous studies showing that it can help patients make healthier lifestyle choices and
achieve better results. Mindfulness focuses on developing awareness of one's thoughts,
feelings, and bodily sensations so that individuals can become more in tune with their
needs. It also helps people to respond to stressors in a healthier way and cultivate
positive habits.
When used as a tool for bariatric weight loss, mindfulness encourages individuals to
stay focused on their long-term goals while managing short-term challenges. It can also
be used to help boost motivation by reminding patients why they chose bariatric surgery
and why they are making healthy lifestyle changes. Additionally, mindfulness helps
promote self-compassion which is essential for those struggling with emotional eating or
body image issues related to excess weight gain.
Engaging in Positive Activities
Engaging in activities that promote positive emotions has been found to have a
significant impact on bariatric weight loss. Studies have found that the connection
between positive emotions and losing weight can be beneficial for those who have had
bariatric surgery. In addition, it can help those who are trying to make lifestyle changes
in order to reach their desired weight-loss goals.
The idea of incorporating more positive emotions into one's life is simple: it involves
focusing on the good things rather than the bad. Positive activities such as yoga,
meditation, and exercise can help improve moods and reduce stress levels, both of
which are important components of successful long-term weight loss maintenance.
Engaging in these activities also helps foster a sense of self-compassion and self-care
which is essential for those in recovery from bariatric surgery or any other type of major
lifestyle change.
In Conclusion…
Bariatric self-love is essential for anyone seeking bariatric surgery, as it can help them
to feel more mentally prepared for the process. Self-love involves making lifestyle
changes that prioritize one’s own well-being and emotional health. This could mean
taking time out of busy days to practice self-care, such as reading a book, going for a
walk, or exercising regularly. It also means allowing oneself to be vulnerable and honest
with their feelings and recognize when one needs extra support from friends and family.
In addition, individuals must practice healthy eating habits by reducing processed foods
and increasing their intake of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Finally, people should
strive to limit alcohol consumption in order to maintain good physical health. To get
started on a path to bariatric self-love, start by identifying small changes that will make
you happy and focus on positive affirmations to stay focused on what’s important and
remind you of the power of your thoughts. Remember, the words you say to yourself matter!
Bio
Dr. Renetta Weaver is a Doctor of Metaphysics and Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
She is the founder of Regain No More where she helps Bariatric clients move the scale
to the left in the right way through courses, counseling, coaching, and consulting.
