Dating while on a Weight Loss Surgery Journey

As an adult, dating is one of the most exciting things. You get to meet new people and have a good time while searching for a relationship. It can be an extremely amazing experience. However, as a weight loss surgery patient, there are some things to keep in mind while dating.

One of the most important things to remember is when it comes to alcohol. The dating scene typically involves alcohol and as bariatric patients, we must be careful with it. It is so much easier to drink than eat, which means we sometimes can drink too much. With our new anatomy, our bodies respond to alcohol differently and we tend to become drunk faster than before surgery. It is important to remember that some bariatric patients change their food addiction to alcohol addiction. We must be very careful when we drink so we don’t get sick, and don’t become dependent on it.

Another thing to keep in mind while dating is your relationship with food. Dating tends to consist of a lot of restaurants, which means you will be exposed to a great deal of food. It is important that you keep control and stay disciplined. You don’t necessarily have to avoid eating at a restaurant, but pick healthy options and be aware of the surviving size. Don’t get too full too fast as this will cause you to get sick or experience dumping syndrome while you are on a date. That does not sound like fun!

For some bariatric patients, they choose not to tell their date about the surgery and that is completely fine. You have to do what you are comfortable doing. For those that would like to be open about the surgery, remember the support system that you need after surgery. If your date does not seem to care or makes you feel bad about having the surgery, they might not be a good fit for your new lifestyle. Also, you might want to pay attention to their habits. If they tend to eat a lot of unhealthy foods, they might influence you to as well. It is critical that you find a healthy support system to help you through all stages of this journey.

A good idea is to find healthy things to do together. Don’t just use dinner as a date. Choose healthy things like hiking to do together. It will bring you together a lot more and will create a healthy foundation for your relationship. Use this opportunity to try new active things such as swimming, sports, running, etc. You will have a lot of fun with these activities and it will inspire you both to stay fit.

Weight loss surgery tends to help people’s confidence tremendously. If you are just starting to date, have fun with it! Enjoy the new you and feel confident in your skin as this is an extremely attractive trait. Don’t beat yourself up about how big or small you are, just have fun and be safe. Remember, you are beautiful and deserve happiness!