Bariatric Support
Course Overview
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A path from assessment to coaching — follow the tabs in order for the full ProgressTracks journey.
A changed body works best with a mind prepared for change.
Prepare psychologically and behaviorally for a major life transition by examining expectations, beliefs, fear, motivation, perfectionism, shame, and the mental patterns that influence long-term change.
- Develop realistic expectations about bariatric surgery and life afterward.
- Recognize unhelpful all-or-nothing thinking, perfectionism, and shame.
- Strengthen commitment beyond temporary motivation.
- Practice constructive self-talk and mental rehearsal.
- Build a support and preparation plan.
Explore hopes and assumptions about surgery, weight change, health, confidence, relationships, eating, and life after surgery.
- Realistic expectations
- Unrealistic expectations
- Health versus appearance
- Relationships
- Emotional adjustment
- Long-term work
Planned lesson · Coming soon
Recognize perfectionism, shame, harsh self-judgment, and the belief that one difficult choice means the entire plan has failed.
- Perfectionism
- All-or-nothing thinking
- Shame
- Self-talk
- Progress over perfection
- Returning quickly after a difficult choice
Planned lesson · Coming soon
Learn how values, planning, routines, support, and small actions can sustain progress when motivation is low.
- Motivation
- Commitment
- Values
- Planning
- Small actions
- Support
Planned lesson · Coming soon
The goal is not to fear food — it is to relate to it with greater awareness and intention.
Develop more intentional eating behavior through mindfulness, awareness, planning, flexible thinking, and collaboration with your bariatric nutrition team.
- Practice mindful and intentional eating.
- Reduce shame-based thinking about food and eating.
- Follow individualized nutrition recommendations from qualified providers.
- Prepare for social situations, eating out, holidays, and travel.
- Recover constructively after difficult eating experiences.
Slow down and increase awareness of thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, choices, satisfaction, and your bariatric care plan during eating experiences.
- Slow down
- Pay attention
- Reduce distractions
- Notice internal experience
- Follow your care plan
- Reflect without judgment
Planned lesson · Coming soon
Challenge the idea that eating choices determine your worth and replace shame with responsibility, curiosity, and constructive adjustment.
- Food is not a moral score
- Self-worth
- Responsibility without shame
- Curiosity
- Learning
- Recommitment
Planned lesson · Coming soon
Long-term change becomes easier when healthy actions become part of everyday life.
Create practical systems that make health-supporting behaviors easier to repeat, including planning, hydration, movement, sleep, follow-up care, stress management, and other individualized recommendations from your care team.
- Translate health goals into repeatable daily behaviors.
- Use planning and environmental design to make supportive choices easier.
- Build consistent routines around clinician-directed nutrition and hydration.
- Support appropriate movement, sleep, stress management, and recovery.
- Recover quickly when routines are disrupted.
Create routines, reminders, preparation strategies, and environmental supports that reduce dependence on willpower.
- Routines
- Planning
- Reminders
- Environment
- Preparation
- Consistency
Planned lesson · Coming soon
Develop systems around the foundational behaviors recommended for you by your bariatric team.
- Nutrition plan
- Hydration
- Movement
- Sleep
- Medication and supplements as prescribed
- Appointments and follow-up
Planned lesson · Coming soon
If food helped you cope, lasting change requires additional ways to care for yourself.
Expand your coping toolbox so difficult emotions and life experiences do not automatically lead back to old eating patterns or other harmful behaviors.
- Recognize emotional states that commonly trigger old coping patterns.
- Develop multiple healthy coping options.
- Practice emotional regulation and stress-management skills.
- Strengthen relationships and willingness to seek support.
- Recognize when professional behavioral-health care is needed.
Explore whether eating has helped soothe, distract, reward, numb, celebrate, connect, avoid, or manage difficult experiences.
- Soothing
- Distraction
- Reward
- Numbing
- Celebration
- Connection
- Avoidance
Planned lesson · Coming soon
Develop multiple ways to respond to stress, anxiety, loneliness, anger, boredom, grief, fatigue, and difficult emotions.
- Emotional regulation
- Connection
- Mindfulness
- Movement
- Rest
- Journaling
- Meaningful activity
- Professional support
Planned lesson · Coming soon
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