Love and Lap Band

When two people join together as one in holy matrimony, they vow to love, cherish and completely give their whole selves to one another before saying “I do.” However, there’s a big difference between giving your whole self to someone and completely letting yourself go.

Research shows that people who get married are almost twice as likely to become obese than those who are still dating. This could spell trouble for newlywed patients of bariatric surgery in St. Petersburg and Bradenton, so it’s important to not let the honeymoon phase sabotage your waist line or your weight loss efforts.

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes…more pounds?

The honeymoon phase is exciting for any newlywed couple—Lap Band patients included. This is a time to learn, grow and discover new things about yourself and your partner as you progress forward in what hopefully will be a long and healthy marriage. You may find yourself falling into the honeymoon phase of things rather quickly, but be careful not to let your weight loss efforts fly out the door in the meantime.

Oftentimes, after couples join hands in marriage they begin to spend more time together—maybe more so than ever before. Sooner or later they find themselves getting away on romantics trips more often, drinking more wine and dining out whenever possible. Though this whimsical stage of marriage may seem like a fairytale, it can easily cause the pounds to add up if you’re not cautious.

Here are some tips to help newlyweds stay fit and healthy together ever after.

Cook healthy meals together instead of dining out.

When you’re looking for any excuse to make more free time to spend with your partner, ditching home-cooked meals is often an easy one. Why spend an hour preparing dinner and another cleaning up afterwards if you both can just sneak out of the house for a quick bite to eat? Though this is perfectly fine on occasion, a change may be necessary if you find yourself dining out more often than expected. Lap Band patients already have a huge responsibility when it comes to choosing and eating the proper amounts of healthy food and dining out can surely make things tough.

If you think you may be dining out too frequently, talk to your partner about designating certain nights for staying at home and cooking a healthy meal together. Not only will cooking together allow you to spend quality time with your partner, but you’ll be in complete nutritional control as opposed to relying on a restaurant menu to have something suitable for your weight loss diet. What’s more, cooking a healthy meal together allows your partner to learn more about your bariatric surgery dietary guidelines. Your spouse may be responsible for buying the household groceries, so it’s important for him or her to understand which healthy foods you are and aren’t allowed to eat.

Avoid too many movie or TV nights on the couch.

After a long day at work, who wouldn’t want to come home and plop on the couch with their love to do nothing but enjoy each other’s presence? Unfortunately, this lay-down lifestyle can really take a toll on your weight loss efforts after bariatric surgery. Instead of spending time on the couch, get up and get moving with your partner. Encourage him or her to take evening walks with you after dinner rather than cozying up with an old movie in bed. You could even look into an evening yoga class to help you both relax and unwind after a busy and taxing day at work.

Plan fitness dates together regularly.

Though daily physical exercise is a necessary part of your Lap Band lifestyle to ensure long-term results, your partner may not have the same aspirations. Help your partner understand that though your honeymoon phase is amazing, you can’t blow off your exercise routine on a whim without serious reason. Instead, encourage your partner to become part of your weight loss lifestyle by working out together. Though you’ll likely exercise each day, you can plan specific fitness dates in which your partner joins you for healthy exercise. As a couple you can enjoy a bike ride, go to the gym or even jog together for fitness dates. Any time you spend together is still quality bonding time and fitness is no exception.

If you or your partner is a patient of bariatric surgery, do your best to encourage one another to live a happy but fit and healthy life together. Lap Band is a part of your life now and your spouse’s too, so help each other stay motivated for a healthy and active lifestyle for many healthy, happy years to come. Lap Band patients having trouble adjusting to their newlywed lifestyle in St. Petersburg or Bradenton can always seek the support of their weight loss surgeon.