How I Play “The Long Game” in Weight Management

Note from a fellow bariatric patient...

I’ve been reflecting on what it means to maintain my progress after weight loss surgery, and I’ve realized that the most important shift isn’t just about habits or routines. It’s about changing who I am.

Surgery helped me take control in the short term, but long-term success requires transforming my identity, not just my actions.

Life Right After Weight Loss Surgery: Structure and Momentum

Right after my weight loss surgery, everything felt structured. The guidelines were strict, the milestones were clear, and the rapid changes in my body were constant reminders of why I started this journey.

A short-term mindset came naturally because every day brought something new. I was trying different foods, watching the numbers drop on the scale, fitting into smaller clothes, and hearing compliments from people who noticed my weight loss. It was exciting, and that excitement fueled my motivation.

Long-Term Weight Loss Maintenance Is a Different Journey

But lasting success meant facing the quieter months and years ahead. The novelty wore off. Weight loss slowed or stopped. Old patterns crept back into my life.

I had to learn that my weight loss journey wasn’t about discipline alone; it was about shifting from being “someone trying to lose weight” to becoming “someone who lives in a healthy body and protects it every day.”

That identity shift is what carried me forward after the initial enthusiasm faded.

How My Identity Changed After Weight Loss Surgery

Over the past 10 years, I truly have changed, not just on the outside but internally in ways I never expected. I have become a different person. I no longer chase a short-term goal. Instead, I work at being fit and healthy as part of who I am.

I used to believe the hardest part would be losing the weight. What I didn’t realize was that maintaining it, and maintaining the identity that comes with it, is its own journey.

Redefining Success Beyond the Scale

I’ve learned to celebrate the small things rather than relying on dramatic changes for motivation. Today, I look for signs of long-term strength:

• Choosing food that fuels my body
• Stopping when I feel satisfied
• Being more mobile
• Enjoying sore muscles after a good workout
• Maintaining boundaries that support my health

These victories matter just as much as the early milestones.

Consistency Over Perfection in Long-Term Weight Loss

One of the biggest mindset shifts has been understanding that the goal isn’t perfection; it’s consistency.

I’m not trying to become a flawless version of myself. I’m trying to become someone who shows up again and again, even after setbacks. There are days when old habits resurface or I don’t make the best choices.

The long-term version of me doesn’t quit when that happens. I regroup, learn from it, and return to the new habits that support my health.

Why Identity Matters More Than Willpower After Surgery

Ultimately, maintaining weight loss after surgery is about identity, not willpower. It’s about becoming someone who values their health enough to protect it every single day, even when no one else is watching, and no big changes are happening.

It’s also about making friends who understand and cultivate the “new me.” I call them my exercise buddies. They encourage my newfound love of movement and help reinforce the life I am building.

Living the Life I Imagined After Weight Loss Surgery

My short-term self was focused on losing weight; my long-term self is focused on living the life I imagined when I chose this journey.

While my physical transformation has been the most obvious, my mental transformation is what I’m most proud of. I’m learning to live as the person I always wanted to be, not just for a season, but for the rest of my life.

My transformation is ongoing, and while it isn’t always easy, it’s absolutely worth it.

Sincerely,

—Your bariatric friend