Lose weight. Eat healthier. Exercise more. These are admirable resolutions, but they are also very generic and non-specific. If you are struggling with your weight and you make resolutions such as these, you are probably setting yourself up for failure. 

That may be a hard truth, but instead of suggesting these typical resolutions, we want to share advice from patients of Birmingham Minimally Invasive that will help you make much more specific and attainable goals for 2021.

Weight Loss Resolutions that Will Really Make a Difference in 2021

1. Be mindful about weight gain & honest with yourself

If there’s one thing we hear often from patients it’s that the weight just started creeping up without them really realizing how bad it was getting. June was one of these patients. She says, “Over the years, I consistently gained weight. I’d gain about 5 to 10 pounds every couple of months, and literally before I knew it, I was pushing 300 pounds. It just kind of happens before you know it.” 

Make sure that you do know it. It’s not just about the number on the scale. It’s about how your clothes fit, what your relationship with food is like, and how you feel overall. Don’t let things get too bad before you start making some changes.

2. Go back to a healthier time in your life

For many of us, there has been a time in our lives when we were healthier. There was a time when we were more active, but we have gotten away from that lifestyle for whatever reason. BMI patient, Scott says, “For years, I was active, doing a job I loved that helped keep me at a healthy weight of about 180 to 185 pounds.” But then he switched jobs and became very inactive on a daily basis. 

“If you’re thinking about it, and really want to change your life and get back the old you, do it. I wish I could go back and do it 20 years ago. You can’t keep hoping that everybody will fix you. You have to fix yourself and start taking care of your body. My advice is to listen to it; it will tell you what it needs,” Scott says. 

3. Truly be there for your family

Being there for your family is about more than just being physically present. Your family doesn’t want you sitting on the couch all the time because you have no energy or stamina to do anything else. They need you to play with them, go on walks, to attend activities and baseball games, and so much more. 

Marco says, “I knew I had to do something. I had to come to terms with myself and put myself first this time because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be there for my family.” He could not even go to the grocery store with his wife or kids without having to sit down due to his high blood pressure and high blood sugar. After gastric sleeve surgery, he can now go to the grocery store and do much, much more.

4. Get in touch with people who have already had successful weight loss surgery

Elizabeth also had gastric sleeve surgery at BMI, and her advice for anyone considering the option is to talk to people who have already gone through it.

“Get their perspective – is there stuff they miss? You should go into it with the understanding that you’re not going to be able to eat like the rest of your family, and if you have a really bad day, you can’t eat a whole pizza and drink a bottle of wine. You can have a piece and a glass, but that’s it. Once you learn about the surgery from someone who’s been through it and been successful, I believe you’ll be better prepared going into it.”

As we near the end of 2020, a year that has challenged us all, think about possible resolutions in a new way. It’s not just about losing weight, eating healthier, and exercising more. There is so much more to changing your life than just those broad goals. Be specific and intentional, and you will set yourself up for a fantastic 2021.

Let BMI Surgery help you get started on the road to successful weight loss

The caring group of professionals at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery will help you get started on your weight loss journey and stay with you every step along the way. Dr. Long and his team specialize in all types of bariatric surgery, including gastric sleeve surgery, gastric bypass, and the LAP-BAND. Visit us today at http://www.bmisurgery.com/ or give us a call to set up a consultation at 205-833-6907.