Making Your WLS Regime A Success!

Way too often, people start a diet, especially at the beginning of the New Year, get excited about it for a few days, and then return to their normal habits when it gets in the way of their lifestyle. This goes for WLS patients too believe it or not!

The major problem here is that a diet or regime shouldn’t be a fad or an inconvenience even with a few restrictions —it can and should fit seamlessly into your lifestyle if you build in the changes necessary for success. Because if a diet is going to work, it’s got to be something you can keep up with day in and day out without getting frustrated. Our WLS journey doesn’t have an end like many others – there’s no race or finishing tape to sprint towards.

An Easy Guide To Making Your Regime A Success

Sounds simple doesn’t it – and on paper it can be – FOLLOW THE BASICS (see them here).

The first step to maintaining a WLS regime is to recognise that it’s a long-term solution and not a quick fix. Once that’s out of the way, it’s best if you to pay attention to these tips below.

Check Your Attitude

Having the right attitude is vital to your success. If you want to stick to your diet and achieve your wellness and weight-loss goals, you have to believe that you’re worth the effort! So, if you find yourself thinking negative thoughts about yourself when you look in the mirror, stop it right now and give yourself a compliment instead.

You, alone, hold the power to decide whether you’re going to be a quitter or a go-getter. And you should choose the latter! If you’re finding it hard to think positively, go for a short walk or do a quick workout. A little bit of physical activity can actually completely change your mood for the better. Or speak to someone on your team, in your support group, or friends and family that are constructive and want you to succeed.

Follow The Regime “Dos” And “Don’ts”

Instead of telling you what you shouldn’t be doing when it comes to WLS eating (which I can do), I’d rather tell you what you can be doing to help yourself succeed. Here are some of the “dos” and “don’ts” I follow when it comes to my eating habits.

Eat until you’re satisfied but following the 20:20:20 rules (see here). Portion control is vital (and we have a number of aids to help with this like our Bariatric Portion Plate, Measuring Cups, Bariatric Bento Box, Bariatric Cutlery etc to help with this (see here)

Now, this doesn’t mean you should be completely stuffing yourself at every opportunity nor grazing all day long. It just means you don’t need to starve yourself. You’ll just want to listen to your body, follow your nutritional requirements and realise when you’ve had enough and get that signal to stop.

Incorporate a variety of foods into your diet.

Balance and moderation are absolutely key. Don’t eliminate entire food groups from your diet (unless you have an allergy, of course), and try to eat plenty of fruits and veggies. We have many, many recipes for you to consider and even if you have tolerability issues you should find enough to satisfy your needs and your tastebuds!

Quench your thirst—even when you don’t feel like it.

When you’re drinking enough water, you won’t confuse thirst with hunger and accidentally overeat. Plus, staying hydrated is great for so many other health and wellness reasons! But do follow the rules about not drinking with meals.

Get up and get moving.

Even a few minutes of physical activity each day can make a huge difference in your diet and wellness goals. If you’re pressed for time, try taking the stairs instead of the lift/elevator or doing some squats while you’re watching TV. The best exercise is always the one you’ll do so check out some new ways to get moving if you haven’t found one that you really like as yet.

Make it a team effort if you don’t like exercising alone.

I can’t emphasise it enough: Being a part of a community can be so huge for your goals. Find an exercise/diet buddy at work, in your neighbourhood, in your group of friends, support group or even online with like-minded WLS patients! You’ll have all the support you need to reach your goals. We’re here to help too.

Keep checking out strategies here for those emotional eating issues that have nothing to do with hunger. WLS fixes the stomach but not the head! And ask for help if you find that things become overwhelming.