Not losing weight? Time for an attitude adjustment?
Posted by Adam Yarbrough on Fri, Aug 27, 2010 @ 10:49 AM
If you have a LAP-BAND or REALIZE Band, and you aren't losing weight, there are a lot of things you should check before saying it didn't work for you. This is the fourth in a series of five "adjustment" topics.
Do you need an attitude adjustment?
It may sound a little harsh, but this is a legitimate question to ask yourself if you're struggling to lose weight with the band. Let's check your attitude with these questions:
Are you committed to your weight loss journey?
Are you totally honest with yourself about how much you are eating and exercising? If not, try to log your food intake and activity for 3 days.
Are you using food inappropriately to deal with the emotional issues? If not, identify the emotions that drive you to eat and think of more appropriate ways to deal with those emotions. If you cannot solve those problems yourself, are you willing to seek help from a qualified counselor? Depression and other emotional disorders can hit any of us - especially when our lives are changing rapidly. There's no shame in seeking help.
Are you attending and participating in support group meetings?Have you drummed up some support from your family and friends and dealt with saboteurs realistically? A good support network is vital to succeeding in your weight loss journey, and you will likely be a good influence on them, too.
Do you have realistic expectations about the weight loss journey? Try to read over the materials your healthcare provider gave you when you were first learning about the band to remind yourself of what your expectations should be and what behavior is required to meet them.
Are you still obsessing about food, weight, dieting, eating? If you have excessive compulsive thoughts, try to obsess about something else. Identify and prevent perfectionism - all or none; black-and-white thinking. Practice patience with yourself and the pace of your healthy weight loss.
Are you acknowledging your successes with non-food rewards? Instead of celebrating a milestone with an ice-cream treat, celebrate with a visit with a friend or loved one.
Have you learned how to take a compliment? A lot of people get extra attention when they lose weight, and it can be unsettling, sometimes causing people to retreat into more comfortable habits. Remember that the person on the giving end of the compliment is trying to reach out and encourage you. Learn to graciously accept the compliment and use the opening to build or improve a relationship with that person.
Are you getting a diet mentality? Remember that a Lap Band life is one without the diet mentality. Stop weighing yourself several times a day or every day. Once per week is sufficient. Stop dieting. Stop depriving yourself. Stop defining food as “good” and “bad.” Stop rewarding and punishing yourself with food. There is a reason diets so frequently fail, so don't fall into the diet mentality.
How do you feel about all the changes taking place? So many of we who struggle with weight are emotional eaters, and big changes can cause significant emotion. Find ways to recognize and acknowledge new feelings without turning to comfort food. If you can't break the emotional eating habit, consider speaking to a psychologist to discuss your emotions and find better ways to deal with them.
If you are interested in weight loss surgery and would like more information, please download our free kit of weight loss surgery materials today.