How to Be a Healthy Example for Your Children After Weight Loss Surgery

Wednesday, 29 July 2009 14:35

Even though most patients receive weight loss surgery for their own health and well-being, they cannot deny the fact that their loved ones are also very much affected. Many weight loss surgery patients realize after they have had the surgery that they are setting a example for others around them-- including their children. Seeing their mother or father lose a large amount of weight makes a significant impact on children's lives.

As a weight loss surgery patient who is changing your own life, you can also take the opportunity to change your children's lives as well. Involving your children in your new healthy lifestyle will help them turn daily patterns into a habit. Children look up to the adults they see every day and turn to them for guidance on how to live their own lives. Eating, exercising, and other habits are just some of the areas where you can choose to be an example and role model.

Exercise

Exercising with your children is an easy way to continue your weight loss and maintain a level of fitness while showing your children how important physical activity is. Organize an outing to the park or a nearby open area and play a game of kickball, tag, or softball. These types of team-oriented games strengthen the family bonds and the fun, competitive spirit also keeps everyone involved.

Biking, hiking, walking, and jogging (for older kids) are also great ways to get you and your children moving. Finding a nature trail or mapping out a new neighborhood route to try each week will keep these types of monotonous activities interesting.

During the winter, try to get involved in indoor recreational sports teams or do exercises indoors. Wii Fit and Wii Sports on the Nintendo Wii gaming system have a lot of fun activities that children can do but still allow you to break a sweat.

Eating

This is the most important component of any weight loss surgery patient's new way of life, as the ability to eat large amounts of food has been eliminated. Additionally, patients cannot eat junk food, as it may cause dumping syndrome. This eating pattern should motivate you to clean out your cabinets and eliminate any food that you (and your family) will be tempted to eat. Replace chips and cookies with fruits, yogurt, and other healthy snacks. Explain to your children that your family is now going to change their diet in order to keep their bodies healthy and strong.

Abstaining from Bad Habits

A new lifestyle should also bring in other changes to habits that affect you and your family's health. This includes the use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs. Committing to weight loss surgery is the perfect opportunity to cut out unhealthy habits. As with a great amount of weight loss, ceasing the use of these substances also makes a major impact on your children. They will not longer have to experience secondhand smoke or changes in your behavior after consuming alcohol and drugs.

Handling Resistance to Change

Children may feel like they are being forced into a new lifestyle after you go through the weight loss surgery process. They may feel resentful or rebellious against the changes in what is eaten in the home and how they spend their free time. This transition can be easier if you begin to implement new patterns before surgery. Even if you cannot walk far, try to get your children to walk with you. Help them naturally cut down on the time spent watching TV and playing video games by enrolling them in a recreational sports team or spending time with them outside, having a picnic or playing in the park.

Explain to your children that you are having weight loss surgery in order to be healthy again. Tell them that your new lifestyle will help you become healthy again and that they can help by exercising or eating healthy meals with you. You cannot make all these changes alone and having your children's support will definitely help.