Life is stressful – both before bariatric surgery – and after bariatric surgery. You’ll continue to run late in the morning, your job will continue to overwhelm or overload you, your family will still say and do things that hurt your feelings or frustrate the bejeesus out of you, parents will continue to age, spouses and partners will disappoint you, and food triggers will remain everywhere you look. Life is stress-filled. Researchers inform us that in order to successfully maintain weight loss, you need to be able to handle the stress in life using healthy coping skills. As a bariatric patient, eating is not a healthy coping skill. You need to learn and practice engaging in healthy coping skills to have a better chance of maintaining a healthy weight after surgery. Learn more about what a healthy coping skill is, according to a 7-year-old, then learn the importance of practicing using them. Also, do a friend a favor and share this podcast with them!

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SOURCE: lfhag K, Rössner S. Who succeeds in maintaining weight loss? A conceptual review of factors associated with weight loss maintenance and weight regain. Obes Rev. 2005;6(1):67–85.

Episode 65: Predictors for Successful Weight Maintenance — Healthy Coping Skills and the Ability to Handle Life Stress