Weight Loss Readiness

The choice to lose weight is a very personal one, and could be difficult to make until you are fully committed to doing so. If you are overweight or struggling with obesity, your weight loss requires a lifelong commitment to yourself and your health. Weight loss readiness is a critical factor for long-term success.

To assess your weight loss readiness, you’ll want to ask yourself a few questions first:

  • Am I motivated to make long-term lifestyle changes?
  • Do I have any distractions that could possibly become obstacles during weight loss?
  • Are there any emotional issues regarding my weight that should be resolved?
  • Do I have a realistic idea of how much weight I am going to lose?
  • Do I have a realistic plan of how I am going to lose that amount of weight?
  • Do I have a support system?
  • Have I embraced the weight loss challenge with positivity?

Benefits of Weight Loss Readiness

When asking yourself these questions, think about all of the benefits of weight loss. Obesity and excess weight can severely affect your health and put you at an increased risk for a number of diseases and conditions, including:

  • Hypertension
  • Heart attack or stroke
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Sleep apnea
  • Depression
  • Sexual health issues

Weight loss with bariatric surgery can help lower your risk for developing the above conditions. If you are obese and already suffering from any of the above conditions, weight loss can help control or eliminate them.

Being overweight or obese can negatively affect your quality of life. You may experience shame, embarrassment, disability or social isolation. By taking the first steps toward weight loss, you can encourage a happier, healthier you.

When You’re Ready for Weight Loss

If you’ve asked yourself the appropriate questions and decided that you are ready for and committed to weight loss, then it’s time to get moving. Explore your options for weight loss, such as bariatric surgery. Surgery may seem scary at first, but in the hands of a skilled and compassionate surgeon like Dr. Bagnato, you shouldn’t worry. Weight loss with the aid of LAP-BAND is a low-risk and effective way to lose excess weight and promote your overall health.

Don’t rush into any weight loss program. If you are not positive that you are ready to accept the lifestyle changes necessary after bariatric surgery then these are the times when weight loss is likely to fail. Take your time to determine whether or not you are truly ready.

From the Palmyra Surgical Blog

  • Understanding the Glycemic Index
    Understanding the Glycemic Index
    Carbohydrates are one of the six essential nutrients. Despite common talk about avoiding carbohydrates for weight loss, our bodies require them to thrive. Carbohydrates contain sugar. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks down that sugar and absorbs it into the cells with the help of a hormone called insulin, where it is then converted to fuel and used for energy.
  • Reasons to Consider Weight Loss Surgery
    Getting weight loss surgery is a choice that can have a major influence on your health and quality of life for years to come. The conversation surrounding weight loss surgery may come up at the advice of a doctor, after seeing a friend who was successful in their weight loss efforts or maybe after a series of frustrating weight loss attempts.
  • Managing Special Occasions after Weight Loss Surgery
    Every time you turn the corner there is another fast food restaurant or bakery loaded with its own temptations, and you do what you can to stand strong and stick to your post-bariatric diet plan.
  • Shop Smart to Lose Weight
    Healthy Shopping Strategies for a Healthy Household
    When one person in a household gets weight loss surgery, it is actually common for other members of that household to lose weight too. This is called a “halo effect.”
  • Making Healthy Food Substitutions after Weight Loss Surgery
    Approximately six weeks following weight loss surgery you’ll start making the gradual transition back to a whole-foods diet. This is an exciting period for many people. After weeks of gaining sustenance through liquids and soft foods, being able to enjoy a regular meal is something to look forward to.