Welcome to the Bariatric Mom’s guide to success and living your best life! We went through weight loss surgery because we were sick and tired of being sick and tired. We needed a change. This change would be highly invasive and risky, but we decided the benefits outweighed the risks. Since we risked so much, we want this new way of life to be permanent don’t we? To not have been wasted? Keeping routine that revolves around ourselves, not just our kids can be tricky. Accountability friends. Don’t fret! Lets band together so you never forget yourself again!
Bariatric Mom Success Boils down to Accountability
- When we are at work we hold ourselves accountable to get our tasks done, don’t we? Whether you work out of the house or as a stay at home mom, you have tasks that have to be done to keep things running smoothly. You hold yourself accountable and you get it done, even when you don’t want to. Accountability is where it all starts. As mothers, we hold ourselves accountable to feed and bath our children, to take them to sports practices, to cook dinners and help with homework, even when you’re too tired. We hold ourselves accountable already in many aspects of life. To be a successful Bariatric mom and person we need to make sure we focus on holding ourselves accountable for the little steps that lead to big results, health, and happiness. We need to take pride in the steps we take for ourselves like we do our children or job. After all, taking care of ourselves teaches our children first hand the importance of taking pride in their own actions.
- When I was young, every weekend, my mother had certain chores for our house, planning for our meals and reviews of our upcoming school work. She would say “time for our weekly round-up!” Of course, as a child, I sighed and grumbled and maybe even rolled my eyes. It wasn’t until I started working and maintaining my own house and children that I fully appreciated this discipline. Now, there is more than just maintaining our house and kids homework that is important, we must care about our bariatric meal plan, our schedules, our fitness, our mental health. It all boils down to loving ourselves enough to be accountable for ourselves the same as all these other assignments we navigate.
What is does accountability really mean?
- Accountability by definition is responsibility. We must be responsible for our own happiness. Since we used weight loss surgery as a tool to help achieve our happiness, we need to be responsible for the daily assignments we deserve. Did you catch that…we deserve!
- Let’s clear up common misconceptions.
- Others can be accountable for us: False, only you can implement practices for our own success; however, accountability coaches can really help us achieve success!
- Accountability means extra work: False, in fact, it actually eliminates time on distractions or unproductive behavior
- Accountability means concentrating on failures: False, It’s a way to recognize and encourage successes as well as identify and rectify failures.
- I can do this on my own: Possibly, Having an accountability coach gives you that extra ‘oomph’ of encouragement and motivation to get your workouts in or stick to that meal plan. It’s key to continuing your fitness journey and making it a lifelong commitment.
How to get started with Bariatric Mom Success
- Some common practices for success after bariatric surgery include: choosing the right foods and snacks, staying hydrated, taking your vitamins, starting your meal with a salad, exercise (get moving!).
- Having a support person is always of essence as well. A lot of people like to have an accountability coach. An accountability coach can help the bariatric mom short term or long term. They will be there to check in on you and motivate you to stick to that meal plan or fitness plan. They will also help you stay accountable for your mental health. They help you to stay focused on you as well as the kids and work.
Tips for Long Term Success
- Meal Prep
- Exercise
- Join Bariatric Groups
- Make goals
- Research recipes
- Make healthy substitutes for your favorite unhealthy foods
- take before and after pictures
- keep a food log
- keep an exercise log
- Don’t always trust the scale, measure!
- Stay away from Carbonated drinks
- Highly limit alcohol
- Meditate
- Journal
- Eliminate negative influences
Common Questions/FAQ
This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using this link.
- How do you stay motivated?
- The short answers could include, weighing weekly, stay away from stretchy pants and make goals. The more in-depth answers involve taking mental inventory regularly, finding fitness or movement you truly enjoy, and organization and accountability.
- How do you meal prep?
- Meal prep may seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be. Meal prep can be done on a Sunday (what normally comes to mind); or, it can be as simple as doubling your recipe any day of the week and packing a few Tupperware bowls (voila…meal prep done)!
- How do I work with an accountability coach?
- It’s simple. For Exercise, you decide the days you want to exercise and tell your coach (or fill out the form). Your coach then requires you to let them know when you have worked out and motivates you if needed. If you are using them for diet, you go over your weekly meal plan with them (or ask them to make you one you like) and they keep you accountable for the diet.
- link to my coaching
- What is the difference in meal prep and meal planning?
- Meal Planning can include prep but doesn’t have to. Meal planning is planning what days to eat what meals. Meal prep is preparing meals ahead of schedule and packaging each recipe for more than one day’s meal.
- I work full time how do I have me time to meal plan or exercise?
- Me time doesn’t have to be an evening planned way ahead of time with a babysitter for the kids. Me time can be your ride to work after you drop the kids off at school (listen to an audiobook, utilize the quiet, make that phone call). It can be a short walk during your lunch hour. Put the kids to bed in time for an hour or two to yourself. There are many different options you and your accountability coach can come up with if needed.
- How do you get back on track if you have gained weight after surgery?
- You can meal plan, add more exercise, utilize an accountability coach or fitness trainer. You can do the bariatric keto diet. You can also do a pouch reset diet. Any kind of re-commitment will help.
The Last Thing You Need to Know about being accountable for your own success
- You have to take care of yourself. If you don’t, no one will. You may not be able to do it ALL for yourself, but a few small things towards your goals is better than none at all. Work with what you’ve got!
- Subscribe to my email list to be notified of specials, ebook releases and much much more!
- You Can also visit my bariatric moms shop to explore my accountability coaching!
Subscribe and get FREE PLANNERS!
