Manage Your Self-Esteem After Bariatric Surgery

Undergoing bariatric surgery is often a situation that can leave you feeling hopeful and anticipatory. You are taking steps toward improving your health in losing a considerable amount of weight. There is a definite impact on your emotions not only before you have weight loss surgery but after as well. Your self-esteem may also take a hit, even though you have finally taken the necessary steps toward dropping the weight and living a healthier lifestyle. What can you do to manage your self-esteem after bariatric surgery?

A support group can greatly help in a number of ways, especially when it comes to helping to manage your self-esteem. This is because a support group is made up of a group of people who have gone through the exact same experience as you, which means they can relate to your personal story and how you are feeling after going through bariatric surgery. You can share your story with others who have similar experiences but come from different backgrounds and find a kinship because you share a common goal. Other members can also give you helpful tips on going on after your weight loss surgery.

There are a number of ways in which support groups are extremely helpful. They can help you to:

• Meet New People: You can meet new people when you are a part of a support group for individuals who have gone through weight loss surgery or who lost a considerable amount of weight by other means. You share the same goals and can potentially make new friends, which is great because they can become part of your support system.
• Get Helpful Advice: When you join a support group, there are always people there who can give you advice on how to manage your emotions and build or rebuild your self-esteem. This is because they have gone through the same or similar circumstances and can share their own personal experiences and how they dealt with certain situations.
• Witness Success: Support groups can help you to overcome and see past any problems that may lie ahead while you celebrate your successes and those of other members who are having similar experiences.
• Make Connections: Support groups can lead you to additional groups or communities that can benefit you in a number of ways. For example, you may learn about a workout group that can help you to increase your fitness levels while you are still losing weight following your bariatric surgery. This can also help with your self-esteem when the workout group is comprised of people like you who have gone through the same or similar experiences.

It is also important to get together with close friends and family members after undergoing bariatric surgery. People who are part of your support system are there for you and can help you emotionally, which can certainly help you to maintain your self-esteem. You may also want to speak with your doctor about any suggestions on how to manage your self-esteem while you attain your weight loss goals.