5 Self-Care Rules for Life After Bariatric Surgery

It has been 10 years since I had bariatric surgery, and when I think about self-care today, it means something very different to me than it did back then. For a long time, I thought taking care of myself was mostly about my weight: what I ate, how much I ate, what the scale said, and whether I was doing everything "right." Bariatric surgery certainly changed my relationship with food and gave me a tool that helped change my life. But 10 years later, I've learned that real self-care is about much more than food or a number on a scale.

5 Self-Care Rules for Life After Bariatric Surgery

I have developed five rules for self-care that help me stay grounded and remind me of what really matters.

Rule #1: Move My Body Because I Am Worth Taking Care Of

Exercise is one of the most important parts of self-care for me. I do not want exercise to feel like punishment for something I ate or something I weigh. I want it to be something I do because I value my health and want to feel strong.

When I exercise, I have more energy, I feel better mentally, and I feel like I am doing something positive for myself. I have also learned that I do not have to be perfect. Some days I do more than others. What matters is consistency.

Rule #2: Make Time for Myself Without Feeling Guilty

This may be one of the hardest lessons I have learned. It is easy to spend all of my time working, taking care of responsibilities, and being there for other people. Somewhere along the way, I had to learn that my own time matters too.

I am allowed to take a break and do something simply because I enjoy it. I am allowed to rest. Making time for myself is not selfish. It is a reminder that I am worthy of the same care and attention that I am willing to give to everyone else.

Rule #3: Do Not Let Food Become the Center of My Life

Bariatric surgery naturally makes food an important part of daily life. I still need to think about protein, hydration, vitamins, portions, and making healthy choices. But I do not want to obsess over food.

I do not want every meal to become a math problem or every treat to become a source of guilt. I want to be mindful of food without being consumed by it. Food should be part of my life, not the center of it.

Rule #4: Stop Expecting Perfection

There are going to be days when I choose something that is not especially nutritious. Sometimes I will skip a workout, feel tired, or fall short of the healthy habits I try to maintain. One imperfect day does not erase 10 years of progress.

I have learned that beating myself up rarely leads to anything positive. The better choice is to acknowledge it, move forward, and get back to the habits that make me feel good. Consistency matters much more than perfection.

Rule #5: Remember That Self-Care Should Help Me Enjoy My Life

The reason for everything I have done over the past decade is not simply to maintain a certain weight (although I do try to stay within my "happy" weight range). My desire is to live well. I want to have the energy to go places, spend time with people I care about, try new things, laugh, travel, and enjoy the life in front of me.

Taking care of myself means looking after my physical health, but it also means caring for my emotional well-being and making room for the things that bring me happiness.

What Self-Care Looks Like 10 Years After Bariatric Surgery

Ten years after surgery, I still have to make conscious choices about my health every day, and that will probably always be true. But the biggest lesson I have learned is that self-care is not about constantly pushing myself to do better. It is about treating myself as someone worthy of care and enjoying the life that I have worked so hard to create.

Sincerely, 
—Your bariatric friend