Importance of Support During Weight Loss

Weight loss is challenging, but there are a lot of ways to make it easier. Along with making sure you get enough protein and limiting carbs, and having access to delicious, healthy meals and snacks such as those at The BariatricPal Store, getting adequate support can be critical for success with your weight loss journey.

Online Support

The BariatricPal forum includes hundreds of thousands of members of the weight loss surgery community, including people who may be pre or post-op bariatric surgery patients. BariatricPal.com members know what you are going through, and can offer a listening ear and instant advice from experience. Membership is free and includes:

• Access to a supportive online community and live chats.
• Access to a complete resource center with information on weight loss, nutrition, and bariatric surgery.
• Opportunities to post photos and blogs.

By participating in online support groups such as BariatricPal.com, you can get your questions answered anytime, find empathetic people who can give you a boost, and find answers to questions you didn’t even know you had!

Surrounding Yourself with People Who Help

Some people can drag you down by being negative or by influencing your food choices in a negative way. Spending your time with people who are more positive and helpful can lead to more success on your weight loss journey. 

Ideally, it is best to surround yourself as much as possible with people who understand and respect your eating habits and dietary limitations. You may need to explain your needs to them, but they should be open to listening. People who eat healthy foods and who are sincerely interested in your wins and struggles can make the journey easier for you.

Eating Healthily with Others

Socializing is part of an overall healthy lifestyle, and eating together is a central part of many healthy relationships. However, can you really enjoy meals and snacks with others when they are eating “normal” - that is, possibly high-calorie, high-carb, high-fat - foods? Of course! Just make healthy swaps. For example, if they are having spaghetti and meatballs, you can have Protein Pasta or Shirataki Pasta with turkey meatballs. Other helpers include:

• Zero Carb Pizza Crust
• Protein Peanut Butter or Low-Sugar Nut Butter with Calorie-Free Fruit Spread on Zero-Carb Bread
• Protein Mac and Cheese
• Protein Sour Cream and Chive or Garlic High-Protein Mashed Potatoes
• Keto Wraps

If they are ordering in, chances are that you can find something on the restaurant’s menu that works for your diet - items such as chicken, salmon or another type of fish, steamed or grilled vegetables, and green salads with a protein are usually safe choices. If nothing on the menu works for you, you can have a delicious, single-serving meal in minutes just by heating up any of our Protein Entrees, including Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chicken Enchilada Verde, Vegan Chicken Curry, and Chicken Alfredo Pasta. 

The same trick works for snacks. Just whip out your diet-friendly snack when they dig into something you can’t have. 

• Protein Potato Chips instead of fried potato tortilla, or corn chips.
• Protein Pretzels rather than regular pretzels.
• Sugar-Free Chocolate Bars in place of Hershey’s bars or M&Ms.
• Protein Cheese Crisps while they have cheese crackers

The right support can make the difference in your weight loss journey, and it comes from all directions. Online communities, positive people, and smart food swaps can help you lose more weight while making it easier.