Deciding to undergo bariatric surgery is a major life decision. Unlike other types of surgery, weight loss surgery requires your long-term commitment to lifestyle changes if you want to sustain the weight loss.
That means you have to follow the recommended eating and exercise plan. For many bariatric surgery patients, this can be a challenge especially after years of eating differently and barely working out.
This is why the team at New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in Knoxville stresses the importance of joining a support group after weight loss surgery.
The Benefits of Joining a Support Group
Your family and friends may offer and show you support after your surgery, but they can’t exactly understand what you’re going through unless they’ve tried bariatric surgery themselves.
A support group specifically for bariatric surgery patients can provide you with:
Accountability
Adjusting to changes after the surgery can be tough but with a group who understands what you’re going through and encourages you to keep on trying, it’s hard to give up.
Emotional support
It makes it easier to share your struggles and wins with people who know exactly what you’re talking about.
In a support group, there’s a deep emotional connection as you will be with people who have gone through or been going through what you’re experiencing in your own weight loss journey.
Education
From time to time, support groups may have a resource person, whether it’s a dietitian, physiologist, or any healthcare professional who can share info that can help you adjust with your life after bariatric surgery.
There are support groups that you can join in-person or online. New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery has a private online support group Facebook page. This is an invite-only group, designed for the New Life patients of Dr. K. Robert Williams. Members share recipes, photos, and provide support for each other.
If you have questions about this private support group, please don’t hesitate to contact our New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery team at (865) 694-9676.
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.