“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” –Robert Frost
Everyone has a path to follow in life. When you embark on your weight loss journey you are choosing to follow a new path, one that is likely to be lined with obstacles and stressors you haven’t encountered in the past. For many people the road to healthiness is the road less traveled, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the right path for you.
A lot of people are familiar with the diet and exercise process. Diet and exercise fads, crash diets—you name it and it’s been done before, sometimes twice over. But as many people learn the hard way, these diet plans often don’t work. They might deliver moderate temporary weight loss, but without the lifestyle changes needed to keep weight off for good. By the time you think you’ve reached your goal you are already putting weight back on. This yo-yo dieting can be persistent and frustrating.
Getting weight loss surgery in Albertville or Guntersville gives you a fresh start. It is unclear what may lie in the road ahead, but you now have the tools in place to handle whatever comes your way. But just as you would prepare before heading out on any sort of excursion, you’ll have to ready yourself mentally for what’s ahead.
Here are a few strategies to keep close in mind as you embark on your weight loss journey:
- Commitment: This isn’t a short trip you are starting on—it is a permanent transition. To successfully lose weight and keep it off you’ll have to accept new habits as permanent and commit to living a healthier lifestyle indefinitely.
- Motivation: Your weight loss surgeon, family and friends can all act as forms of external support, but nothing compares to your own internal motivation. Think long and hard about why you want to lose weight and write those thoughts down. For example, you might find internal motivation in the desire to be better able to play with your children or the longing to move more freely so you can travel.
- Realistic goals: When you aren’t realistic about your goals you are setting yourself up to be let down. Your goals should be high, but attainable. Try setting smaller goals and using them as stepping stones to your larger objectives.
- Attitude: A good attitude can take you far. Instead of just following the diet your surgeon has outlined for you, try to really become interested in healthier foods and see if you can enjoy your new way of eating. The same goes for activity. Going to the gym for 30 minutes a day to meet your quota is a great accomplishment, but the feat will become easier if you are positive about your exercise goals and letting yourself enjoy the activity.
There is a long road of health and wellness ahead of you. Getting weight loss surgery is not the finish line—far from it. With the new tools you have in place your bariatric procedure can give you the boost you need to progress steadily down your new path.
