How Your Partner Can Help You Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle After Weight Loss Surgery
In having weight loss surgery, you are committing to making a change in your life. As a result of your weight loss, you will probably experience a boost in self-confidence, feel like you have more energy and motivation, maybe even a different outlook on the future.
Overall, your weight loss surgery can be a major turning point in your life. Therefore, you want the most important person in your life, your partner, to be a part of every step of the process. Also, there is significant evidence to suggest that those with a strong support system see more favourable outcomes after their bariatric surgery. Therefore, the Perth Weight Loss & Surgery team has put together some points for you and your partner to keep in mind post-surgery.
It may be helpful to read this information together to get an idea of the expectations you need to have of each other as one of you enters into their weight loss journey.
Stay Informed & Keep Lines of Communication Open
Depending on the specific bariatric surgery you had, it will take a few weeks to recover, move from a liquid to a solid diet, and adjust to your new nutrition plan. See our ‘what to expect after surgery’ pages on our website for more information on this process.
Keep your partner thoroughly informed throughout these early post-operative stages. Let them know what you need and what to expect, and pass along any pertinent information given to you by your surgeon, Dr. Siva Gounder. The early stages of the process may alter the social activities you and your partner would usually do, which may be tricky for your partner to adjust to.
For example, you may not feel like going out to dinner while still required to eat a liquid diet. Keep the lines of communication open with your partner and let them know that this is just a temporary situation.
Support Changing Priorities and Schedules
After your bariatric surgery, your priorities will inevitably shift toward your health. Your schedule may be much more strict when it comes to ensuring that you meet your dietary and exercise regime requirements. This may be difficult for your partner to adjust to in the beginning. However, your partner must support the lifestyle changes you are making and try their best to become involved. This is a chance for you to find exciting new ways to eat healthily together and reach your fitness goals as a team. Embrace this time as an opportunity for spending quality time together in new environments and try new things. For example, this might include going for hikes together, taking a healthy cooking class, or joining a gym together.
Accepting Changes in Your Partner
After weight loss surgery, it is common to hear people say, “I feel like a whole new person!” In losing a large amount of weight, your new sense of confidence in your appearance may encourage you to make other changes – such as buying a whole new wardrobe and getting a makeover of your hair or make-up look. Your partner may feel like they are being ‘left behind’ or feel the dynamic in your relationship has changed. It is important to take the time to reconnect with your partner, make them feel secure, and be open with your emotions. Both of you need to always come back to the fact that these changes are for your health and will allow you to live a longer, happier life together.
Contact Perth Weight Loss and Surgery today for further advice!
To learn more about the post-operative support we offer at Perth Weight Loss and Surgery, please do not hesitate to contact our team here.
