Life After Bariatric Surgery: Support Groups
Bariatric surgery is a great tool for starting your health journey. However, it’s not a magical tool that will make you suddenly lose weight and keep it off forever. To achieve your desired results, you have to make a lot of permanent changes in your lifestyle – from eating to getting active.
As many of us know, making changes can be a challenge. You will go through an emotional roller coaster going through these changes. It’s the same thing when you’re trying to adapt to a healthy lifestyle.
This is where support groups become valuable.
What are the Benefits of a Bariatric Support Group?
Joining a support group is one of the best things you can do to deal with the changes and the challenges that come with it. With a support group, you can:
• Stay accountable
Being with people who are on the same journey as you are can spark that motivation to stay accountable.
The journey will have its hurdles, but you would feel less defeated when you know you’re not the only one going through with it.
• Emotional support
Weight loss surgery can be life changing. However, this doesn’t mean that everything will be smooth-sailing.
You will have your highs and lows in this journey. You may have family and friends who express their support, but the reality is, they would never truly understand what you’re going through unless they’re or they’ve been bariatric patients themselves.
In a support group, you will find people who can empathize with your situation. It’s a place where you can freely express your wins and struggles without the fear of judgment or being misunderstood.
• Continuous learning
From time to time, we invite professionals who can help you with your weight loss journey. They may be registered dietitians who will talk about eating habits, exercise physiologists who can talk about physical activities, and so on.
New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery has bariatric support groups that meet in-person and online. We also have a private Facebook group, exclusively for weight loss surgery patients.
We require our patients to attend at least one bariatric meeting before getting their bariatric surgery. These meetings are facilitated by our hospital bariatric staff who can answer your questions.
Parkwest Bariatric Support Groups are held the 3rd and 4th Mondays of each month at 5:30pm in the Holston Room of the Physicians Plaza at 9330 Parkwest Blvd. in Knoxville. Space is limited so registration is required. To register, please call (865) 374-7275.
We also have bariatric support groups in other areas.
If you can’t make it in-person, another option is joining our private Facebook support group.
If you have other questions regarding our support groups, please don’t hesitate to call (865) 374-7275.
New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery is part of Premier Surgical Bariatrics in Knoxville, Tennessee. New Life is affiliated with the Parkwest Center for Bariatric Surgery, part of Covenant Health Bariatric Services.