While it’s easy to accept that there’s a certain amount of regain expected following weight loss surgery, regain is real. And when not kept in check, our habits can go off the rails and down the track of self-sabotage. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), as many as 50% of all surgical patients gain back a small amount of weight (approximately 5%) two years or more following surgery.
Keeping it real, I fall into that category. When I think about where I have come from, it’s no big deal. These pesky 5-10 pounds is nothing considering I started at 226. I keep chugging along, doing everything I know I can and am being patient before I write it off as the horrors of peri-menopause or my broken metabolism. I know it comes down 100% to habits and accountability.
I regularly engage with the bariatric community through Twitter, Instagram, my own surgeon’s support group, and other online groups. I see that there is a need for support, especially when patients experience regain. I reached out through Twitter to do some simple research with these questions:
- What has been your biggest challenge since surgery?
- What would it look like if you were able to overcome that challenge?
- What is holding you back from overcoming that challenge?
- Would you pay for support to help you overcome this challenge?
Guess what the answer was to the first question? Fear of regain. Even patients who hadn’t experienced any regain feared it. And what it would look like to overcome that fear? Regaining that feeling of invincibility that they had right after surgery. Digging deeper, they said that was the time when they were the most committed, followed their program’s nutrition guidelines to a T, and experienced no hunger in those months after surgery. For those that reached goal, that feeling of shopping in the “regular” stores and restored confidence was a common theme. And for those who experienced regain, they claimed the reason was that they let their good habits slide, making way for old habits, old thinking patterns, mindless grazing, and making less than healthy choices in all areas of their lives.
Having these conversations made me realize that there was a need for support right at the moment where things go off track. The problem is, people are embarrassed to go back to their surgical programs for help, thinking they will just take care of it on their own. Appointments get postponed while trying to shed those regained pounds. Structured eating turns into trying every diet under the sun from keto to paleo to intermittent fasting to vegan to carnivore to [insert name of latest nutrition trend here]. By this point, they stop going for annual checkups, don’t get lab work done, and may be going down a dangerous path.
Financial barriers are a driver for seeking out help. Insurance coverage may have changed, or the cost of protein or supplements may no longer fit into budgets. People seek support in a variety of online channels, but these are groups run by patients (or even by supplement companies) offering nutritional advice outside of the ASMBS guidelines for post-bariatric nutrition and follow-up support.
Hearing the frustration in the voices of my interviewees, I decided I needed to do something. In just a few weeks, I will be completing (yet another) certification as a bariatric coach. My goal is to offer free and low-cost coaching opportunities for bariatric patients, aimed at first reconnecting them with their programs for monitoring, and helping to reverse the regain by examining habits related to nutrition, fitness, and mindset.
So where does stigma come in?
Stigma comes from so many different places. First, there’s self-stigma. The story we tell ourselves about failure, again, along with negative self-talk is our very first challenge to overcome. There’s stigma in the fitness and wellness industry, especially related to weight loss surgery. Most trainers and health coaches are unaware of the specific nutritional needs and restrictions for bariatric patients, or they view people affected by obesity as lazy or taking the easy way out. That message, unfortunately, is broadcast loud and clear on the daily. So let’s add in social media as a source of stigma. I call it compare and despair. Seeing people posting their successes and how effortless everything is can be very de-motivating when you yourself are struggling. Finally, there is also bias in the medical community. We’ve all heard “eat less, move more” at the doctor’s office. Obesity is a complex disease and there is no simple formula for treating it. Even the dread of having a conversation about weight is enough to keep patients from scheduling appointments for even routine monitoring.
I am a member of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) who provides amazing guidance about taking a stand against weight bias. OAC’s advocacy work focuses on a number of areas – advocating for equitable treatment of people affected by obesity, improving access to the prevention and treatment of obesity, eliminating weight stigma and bias in the media, and providing a community of support for people affected by obesity. I regularly speak up when I see weight stigma in my industry and have shared information about person-first language to health and fitness coaches whose target markets include people struggling with weight management. I am often accused of being too sensitive, but so be it.
So what am I going to do about regain?
I want to provide a number of free and low-cost tools that can help people who are struggling with regain or plateaus after weight loss surgery. The first offering I have developed is a habit tracker that’s structured around bariatric lifestyles. You can download your daily habit tracker free by signing up for my mailing list.
Next up is a new program called Reverse the Regain. I am offering limited spots at a dramatically reduced price while I work to refine the program. You can sign up for a free consultation with me to see if that program is a good fit for you.
Third, I’ve launched a brand new Facebook group which will remain free of charge, focused on cultivating healthy habits and a sense of community. Join my Healthy Habits Bootcamp group for extra support, free recipes and guidance, and fun prizes!
Finally, I’m working on developing some lower cost group programs, both online and in-person. Much more coming in 2020!
Does this sound like a lot for one person? It is. Maybe I am crazy. But — I am committed to helping people get on track and stay on track so they can continue on their journey towards improved health.