Ways to Deal With Emotional Stress After a Gastric Sleeve Surgery

After having bariatric surgery, you should expect fluctuations in both physical and mental health. You will enter a transitionary period where you’ll start with liquid diets, soft foods to regular meals. Hormonal changes, mood swings and stress are common emotions when dealing with weight loss surgery. As with cases of emotional eating, you would be instantly attracted to simple carbohydrates, fat and sugar. Negative emotions severely impact your intention to keep up with your new body shape and weight. Therefore, you must prepare yourself to manage stress with healthy food and behaviour.

Always follow the bariatric surgeon or dietician’s dietary guidelines after weight loss surgery, as this prevents mood swings. Caffeine and sugar result in severe mood swings as they cause swift changes in energy levels. When confronted with physical discomfort and guilt, you must not indulge in the wrong kind of food. Instead, control your emotions by going on walks and shifting yourself from the hostile environment. Journaling is a great way to control unhappy emotions, as channelizing your emotions to a notebook is better than directing it at others.

Regular exercise reduces stress, so engage in yoga and gentle workouts when bored, stressed, anxious or sad. Engage yourself in a productive hobby and spend quality time with your loved ones, rather than munching on junk food, sweets and crackers. On the whole, avoid buying junk food that could tempt you in stressful and emotional times. Instead, have fresh fruits and vegetables for a more nutritious snacking choice when upset. Even when at parties, choose healthier alternatives to regular food.

When you feel worried, anxious, stressed or sad, be mindful of your food choices. Pause and think whether you’re hungry or simply eating out of emotion. Never snack or have meals when busy in a secondary activity, but always at the dining table. This enables you to engage in the food, remain purposeful and focused.

You must not isolate yourself after the weight loss surgery. Instead, stay in touch with positive people who encourage you in dark times. This significantly prevents (or reduces) anxiety, depression and withdrawal. Join a bariatric support group, where like-minded people would always motivate, inspire and guide you throughout your weight loss surgery. Contact us at the Centre for Weight Loss for expert guidance through your gastric sleeve surgery.