The term "diet" frequently surfaces, encompassing various phases like the pre-operative liquid diet, the post-operative soft foods phase, and the long-term commitment to a healthier diet. However, it's crucial to recognize that the notion of dieting can be misleading and potentially harmful if misinterpreted. The primary aim following bariatric surgery is to guide patients away from temporary dieting to a healthy eating mindset.
It is well understood by those undergoing pre- and post-operative procedures that adopting healthy lifestyle changes is fundamental to the success of bariatric surgery. This includes replacing old habits with new ones, such as consuming a diet rich in nutrients and engaging in regular physical activity. For long-term weight loss success post-surgery, it is essential to transition from dieting to a healthy eating mindset and lifestyle, both physically and mentally.
Persistently cycling through diets can have adverse effects on both your physical and mental well-being. Constantly fluctuating between periods of restricted eating and normal or excessive consumption can disrupt your metabolic processes, leading to a slower metabolism and making weight loss more challenging.
Additionally, chronic dieting can cause nutritional deficits since essential nutrients are crucial for proper bodily functions. Excluding these nutrients can compromise your overall health and bodily functions.
From a psychological perspective, chronic dieting can negatively impact mood and energy levels, potentially leading to symptoms of fatigue, stress, and depression, especially when diets don't yield the desired results. This can also lead to an unhealthy fixation on food and eating habits, which is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Learning to move away from dieting is vital for both your physical and mental health.
For many undergoing bariatric treatment, dieting has been a constant in their lives, from Atkins to keto to Whole 30, often leading to temporary weight loss followed by regain. It's crucial to shift from this mindset and embrace sustainable lifestyle changes.
There might be occasions during your bariatric journey where you experience weight regain, and your healthcare team may recommend a specific diet to help realign your progress. This is acceptable as long as you don't fall back into a perpetual dieting mindset.
Weight loss involves more than just dietary changes. Breaking free from the diet cycle can involve exploring other avenues to maintain health and lose weight. Start by integrating physical activity into your daily life and prioritizing mental well-being. By shifting focus from constant dietary monitoring, you can start to enjoy both food and life more fully.
While the scale is a common tool for measuring weight loss progress, it can also be detrimental to mental health. The frustration of a stagnant scale reading, despite significant effort, can lead to feelings of defeat and a temptation to adopt even stricter diets.
To break away from dieting and cultivate a healthy lifestyle, consider alternative methods to measure your success. This could include improvements in medical metrics (like reduced medication needs or lower cholesterol), enhanced energy levels, increased physical strength, or greater mental clarity.
Habits are usually paired with an environmental cue. After following that cue and action, a habit will be formed over time. This is known as a pattern called the "habit loop," which includes a cue, a routine, and a reward, eventually becoming automatic.
In the journey towards weight maintenance and health, patients often aim to establish positive habits (like regular exercise, food logging, and daily breakfast) and eliminate negative ones (such as nightly desserts, high-calorie morning beverages, or afternoon vending machine visits). To develop and maintain these healthy habits, start with a verbal commitment, set reminders (cues), implement the desired actions (routines), and reward yourself (in non-food ways) when you achieve your goals.
