Personal relationships can be affected by significant weight loss. Often times patients experience many changes throughout this weight-loss journey, including changes of:
- Appearance
- Attitude
- Confidence levels
- Behavioral patterns
Bariatric surgery spouse support starts by learning about the potential changes you may experience before your bariatric surgery. This can help you better prepare and strategize how to discuss your weight loss with your significant other along the way.
Getting to Know the “New You”
Sometimes partners may feel threatened by your change. Through our program you may lose weight pre-operatively, and certainly post-operatively. This weight loss can significantly change your appearance. Oftentimes, our patients are enjoying their new appearance and further this with a new haircut, new clothing and new overall attitude.
Our feelings about ourselves may change as we achieve our weight loss goals – so you may find you are becoming more self-confident. You are behaving differently towards others so others will begin behaving differently toward you. Additionally, you may be prioritizing your time differently; maybe you’re exercising more now and have less time to watch TV at home with your spouse.
To your significant other, this can feel like a totally new you! And let’s be honest, it somewhat is. So you have to spend the time with your significant other re-connecting and allowing them to get to know the new you.
Staying Connected On Your Journey Toward Better Health
Each of these scenarios can cause shifts in your relationship. So, how should you deal with these shifts? The journey of bariatric surgery spouse support requires a continuous cycle of acceptance and connection. To begin,
- Accept that changes are happening: changes to you, to your partner, and to your relationship.
- Spend the time communicating your goals with your partner, and allowing them to connect with you on your journey toward better health.
This communication may not come easy. Both you and your partner have to be ready to accept the changes to your new look and possibly attitude/personality. Once you have each accepted this you can move on to finding ways to connect again.
Maybe your partner would love to get healthier too, and the two of you can begin going out for walks together. Or maybe your partner is not ready to get healthier, that’s okay too. Just be ready to share your need for his/her support while you are getting healthier; then find other ways to connect that will not sabotage your goals.
Bariatric Surgery Spouse Support: Rule #1 – Don’t React, Instead Respond
Do your best not to take things personally… don’t react, instead respond! You are not responsible for how others respond to you, but you are responsible for how you respond to others.
Partners may withdraw because they are struggling to understand your changes or maybe your changes are making them feel insecure. Try to communicate your thoughts and emotions and seek support you may need to do so. Many patients express to our bariatric team that their path to a healthy lifestyle meant various shifts in their relationships. So it is certainly very common!
If you or your partner feels you need extra support during this time, you can always come to one of our bariatric support groups. If it becomes necessary, seek a couple’s therapist who can help you work toward your individual and joint goals.
Bariatric Support Group
The support group is for both pre and post-op bariatric patients and is open to the general public. Those undergoing bariatric surgery, and their spouses who want to support them, are welcome to join. Presenters consist of plastic surgeons, certified fitness instructors, nutritionists etc. The class will take place at Garnet Health Medical Center’s Ground floor Conference room 1 or 3 or at a community based location (rotating quarterly). Please confirm location when you are registering.
Counseling Services
Our clinical professionals work on a one-to-one and group basis to develop an innovative and individualized treatment plan that improves and/or manages a patient’s mental, emotional, physical and social well-being.
Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery
Your life shouldn’t be defined by what your body will and won’t let you do. For those suffering from obesity this is a day-to-day struggle. Led by Dr. Seth Judd, MD, FACS, FASMBS, Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery, and Janet Klein, MS, RDN, CDN, CDE, Bariatric Surgery Program Director, Garnet Health Medical Center offers three minimally-invasive weight-loss procedures called:
- Gastric Bypass
- Gastric Banding
- Sleeve Gastrectomy
These bariatric services can help you get back on track to living a fuller, healthier, more active life.
All content presented are provided for informational and educational purposes only, and are not intended to approximate or replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read within the website content. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.