After having bariatric surgery in Salt Lake City Utah, you can expect to experience changes in more than just the size of your body. From your mental health to your physical health you are in for a world of transitions in the months and years following your bariatric procedure. All of this may seem like a walk in the park compared to the mood swings some people find themselves caught in as they lose weight.
The thing about mood swings is that they set in suddenly. Whether it is thanks to a certain food, hormone or stress, mood swings can leave you feeling happy one moment and in absolute despair the next. If you aren’t careful, a strong mood swing can severely interfere with your motivation to stay on track with your post-bariatric diet plan.
Learning how to identify, cope with and overcome mood swings can be a great help to you during your weight loss journey.
Coping with Mood Swings
Following your bariatric surgeon’s dietary guidelines can help you prevent mood swings by avoiding certain troublesome foods. Sugar and caffeine are both especially likely to cause mood swings thanks to the swift ups and downs they cause in our energy levels.
Stress eating is another factor that can impact a mood swing. The desire to turn to food to cope with emotions, coupled with guilt or physical discomfort from indulging in something after weight loss surgery can cause severe drops in one’s mood. Sticking with your healthy diet after weight loss surgery can help you remain in control of your emotions and ward off sharp mood swings as you lose weight.
Developing strategies to cope with your shifting emotions can help when mood swings develop. Here are a few tips:
- Take a walk. Separate yourself from the environment that is causing you to become upset and take five or ten minutes to calm down. Exercise is especially great for coping with shifting emotions and fluctuating hormones, so try going for a walk.
- Write it down. Sometimes making a quick journal entry is enough to help you address your thoughts. Keep a private journal in your purse, briefcase or at your desk at work and try to channel your negative emotions onto paper instead of directed at someone else.
The best thing that you can do is learn how to identify the early signs of a mood swing and do your best to prevent it from blowing out of proportion. When your mood takes a downward plunge it very rarely only affects you. Loved ones, co-workers, those stuck in traffic alongside you—your mood may affect a lot more people than you realize. Early signs of a mood swing may include sudden sadness or desire to cry, anger and frustration, and often these feelings will develop quickly, without giving you time to sort out why. Do your best to remain cognizant of your feelings at all times, and try to keep control of your mood before you let it control you!