How stress sabotages weight loss after surgery
May 3, 2020
Easy ways to stop grazing after a sleeve
May 25, 2020
Struggling to keep it together? Scared of regaining weight? Maybe you’re still losing but you’ve noticed some of those old habits sneaking back in? Today I want to talk to you about something we’re not always aware of – the fact that everyone has ONE key habit for long term success.
What do you mean “one key habit?”
I hear you ask… “You’re always banging on about how living with a sleeve is a collection of small habits you need to change for the long term”. Well yes, you’re right about that, but let me tell you something…
There is ONE key habit and once you find it, everything else will fall into place!
This one habit is like the missing puzzle piece you find under the couch three years after that Christmas where you missed out on the satisfaction of finishing it completely! Or the discovery of a shortcut on your computer that speeds up your work life immensely. This habit makes everything else work.
If you’re not with me yet, I’ll give you some key habit examples…
- Exercising Daily
If you exercise daily, you eat well, sleep well and your mood is more stable throughout the day/week/month. - Meal Planning and Prep
If you plan your meals for the week and do all of your shopping on the weekend you feel less stressed, make better food choices and graze less throughout the day. - Eating Mindfully
If you concentrate on how you eat, and eat slowly while paying attention, you’re less likely to eat for reasons other than hunger, better about to stop when you are satisfied and therefore eat less, feel more comfortable and avoid the guilt spiral of overeating.
Why does the one key habit work?
I think the main reason why this habit works is two fold. Firstly, imagine just focusing on one thing each day, rather than the 40 habits that are in your initial documentation for how to eat after a sleeve. I mean, that is important too, but once you have the hang of it, it’s nice not to have to think about everything every day (on top of the rest of the mental load we all have… blah!).
Secondly, focusing on the ONE key habit encourages a mindset change. When you have surgery, you have to be in it for the long term, and staying positive can be tough. But, if you know that you are doing one thing every day that it getting you closer to your goal, your whole mindset becomes more optimistic, even if you have a bad day.
So tell me…
What is your ONE KEY HABIT? What is the thing that keeps everything else together? If you can just focus on one thing, what would it be?
Post it below and let me know!
3 Comments
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I just had my gastric sleeve surgery on Monday. How should I go about starting my wl journey?
Hi Tonya, Congratulations! First and foremost I would make sure you are following the guidelines given to you by your team (and make sure you have regular follow ups scheduled with the dietitian and surgeon too). In terms of information here, you can go to the blog, click on the tag ‘after surgery’ and there is lots of information there. I would start with my posts of the fluids and puree stage for now. Good luck!