You're Not Alone: 5 Bariatric Support Groups to Help with Surgery

Bariatric surgery offers life-changing results, replacing impossible pounds with new possibilities. But, this change carries a ton of weight with it.

The invasive procedure takes weeks to months for a full recovery and even more time to adjust to your new lifestyle. Get informed before making any decisions and don't go it alone. Bariatric support groups can help you navigate this journey and answer all of your questions.

5 Helpful Bariatric Support Groups

Nobody wants to feel alone during times of extreme transitions. Get connected both before and after your surgery.

Seek out these 5 groups so you feel supported.

1. Griffin Health Bariatric Support Group

Your bariatric surgery offers you a fresh beginning for living a healthier life. But, this means that you play by the rules.

Following the guidelines following bariatric surgery not only keep your weight off, but they prevent serious complications. Even knowing this, disciplining yourself for this alien lifestyle can be incredibly difficult.

Here you enter into a judgment-free zone where you can learn the necessary skills to keep you on track with your bariatric diet and lifestyle. Visit Griffin Health's website to learn where and when you can meet with others like you who hope to learn how to overcome the struggles people face following the surgery.

2. Wonky Pie Wellness

Most people ate from a completely different menu before their surgery than they need to afterwords. How in the world do you learn what to make and how to make it?

The Wonky Pie Wellness and Weightloss blog serves as an incredible nutrition support group that you can seek out from the privacy of your own home. They provide healthy recipes along with reviews and coupons to help you choose ongoing weight loss options for a reasonable price.

3. American Bariatrics Support Group

Sometimes people want the benefits of a support group from the comforts of home. American Bariatrics offers exactly this!

Register and receive free access to a number of awesome features. Connect with others going through this on forums, share progress pictures, and read helpful articles for a proactive approach to better living.

4. National Center for Health Research

Surgeons may take different approaches to help people keep weight off after surgery. They may suggest a gastric lap band for you.

This means a silicone band goes around your stomach to reduce your food consumption. As with any major life decision, this can come with both pros and cons.

The National Center for Health Research can inform you on everything from the lap band cost to living life with a lap band. Use this resource for support in the form of peer-reviewed research to help you make important medical decisions.

5. My Bariatric Life

This website offers a comprehensive approach to bariatric support. Learn about the causes of obesity and how to cope with it along with everything you need to know about the physical, emotional, and spiritual effects it will have on you.

Learn about the struggles, discover ways to stay fit, and find the inspiration to succeed! Join the Facebook group to stay connected with other patients with the same questions, concerns, and hopes as you!

Stay Connected and Feel Supported

Staying connected to others undergoing similar struggles will help you feel supported so that you can succeed in this new way of life. Bariatric support groups will help!

We want you to meet all of your goals in the fight against obesity. Find the support you need on our website and supplement it with other fantastic programs designed with you in mind.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

This article serves as an empathetic and practical guide to the crucial role of bariatric support groups in the transformative, yet challenging, journey of weight loss surgery. It rightly frames bariatric surgery not as a magic fix, but as a "life-changing" procedure that demands significant lifestyle adjustments and sustained support. The author's emphasis on the long recovery period and the difficulty of adapting to new habits immediately establishes the necessity of a strong support system, urging individuals not to "go it alone."

The Indispensable Role of Connection​

The overarching message, reiterated throughout the piece, is the vital need to "feel supported" and "get connected." The article highlights how isolation during such "extreme transitions" can undermine progress. By featuring five diverse support group options, the author effectively demonstrates the varied avenues through which individuals can find camaraderie and guidance, whether online or in-person, tailored to different aspects of the bariatric journey. This focus on community and shared experience is a fundamental strength, recognizing the psychological and emotional demands inherent in post-surgery life.

Tailored Support for Diverse Needs​

The featured support groups showcase a thoughtful understanding of the multi-faceted challenges faced by bariatric patients:

• Griffin Health Bariatric Support Group is lauded for its "judgment-free zone" and focus on practical "skills to keep you on track with your bariatric diet and lifestyle." This emphasis on discipline and preventing complications speaks to the critical need for structured guidance in maintaining long-term results.
• Wonky Pie Wellness offers a unique approach by focusing on "nutrition support" through a blog that provides healthy recipes, reviews, and coupons. This caters to the practical, day-to-day culinary adjustments, which are often a major hurdle for patients.
• American Bariatrics Support Group prioritizes accessibility and comfort with its online platform, offering forums, progress sharing, and helpful articles. This highlights the importance of readily available, convenient support.
• National Center for Health Research provides a crucial resource for "peer-reviewed research," particularly for those considering specific procedures like the gastric lap band. Its focus on evidence-based information empowers patients to make informed medical decisions.
• My Bariatric Life offers a holistic "comprehensive approach" addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual effects of the journey, coupled with a Facebook group for ongoing connection. This acknowledges the profound impact of bariatric surgery on an individual's entire being.

In conclusion, this article serves as an excellent resource for anyone considering or undergoing bariatric surgery. It skillfully navigates the complexities of the post-operative journey, providing both a compassionate outlook and concrete recommendations for finding essential support. By showcasing a diverse array of resources, the author effectively reinforces the central message that with the right community, the "impossible pounds" indeed transform into "new possibilities" that are sustainable and achievable.