Everyone needs to feel supported every once in a while. Even if you consider yourself a loner, and don’t feel the need to bring friends or family into the smaller decisions in your life, when it comes to the big changes that you take on a little bit of support can go a long way.
After having weight loss surgery, having support is important. A strong support network can make a huge difference in your ability to stay motivated through obstacles and take on new challenges that may sound frightening or new. A strong support network can be made up of friends and family, or strangers who have had similar experiences and can become friends through the shared experience of losing weight.
There are all sorts of reasons as to why those who are closest to you may not be able to support you during your weight loss program. Perhaps obesity and weight loss are not issues they’ve had to battle with themselves, or perhaps those are issues that are currently battling with and are in need of support themselves. Whatever the reason, it is important to recognize when those in your support network aren’t providing you with the support you need, and to realize that is okay. When this happens, reach out to those who can offer you support.
Having a strong support network is key in being successful during your weight loss program. In an ideal world, your support network will be made up of your close friends and family members who you already enjoy spending time with. Unfortunately, this isn’t always an option when it comes to finding support for your weight loss goals. In some situations, you may have to look outside of your immediate friends and family for support, which you can do by joining a support group.
You can find additional support by:
- Contacting your weight loss surgeon and joining a support network through your bariatric community
- Using social media to connect with others who have had weight loss surgery and are going through similar experiences
- Being more open and honest with friends and family members who may be able to support you more effectively with increased understanding of your circumstances
A support group is a great resource to take advantage of because everyone in the support group is looking for the same thing on similar if not the same issues. This is a great place to find empathy and understanding.