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Writer's pictureMarietjie Strauss

Reconstructing your mind after bariatric surgery

Updated: Mar 17, 2023

The theme of World Obesity Day on 4 March 2023 was “Changing perspectives: let’s talk about obesity”.

There is no community who can tell you more about the perspectives, prejudice and stigmas that are projected toward people living with obesity than the people living with obesity. Since being on a bariatric surgery journey, you have heard from numerous experts that these opinions about obesity are based on gross misconceptions. Even if you logically understand that these false ideas are not true, they have been imprinted in your head and heart for such a long time: "you are obese because you are lazy and you have no self-discipline. Being so fat is a choice and you chose not to loose weight. You can easily free yourself from obesity by exercising more and eating less (and then you can be “The Biggest Loser” of them all)".


(Please share the most far-out stigma or misconception that you have experienced on our community forum.)


Most of us have been hearing these messages from a young age and these stereotypes - how false they may be - have become ingrained in our own identity statements: “I don’t have willpower or self-discipline. I am lazy. I am unattractive. I am a wallflower.” These stigmas may even have extended into your self beliefs about bariatric surgery: “I take the easy way out. I can not fight my own battles.”


When you believe these false claims about who you are, chances are that you will continue to believe them even after you have lost weight. You soon realise that bariatric surgery is not a magic wand that also makes you think differently! Our bodies may have been reconstructed, but our minds are thinking in the same old patterns and belief systems.


But what an empowering day when we realise that we are not all these things that have been said about us. Learn to recognise the old, false belief system and train your mind “muscles” to write a new story. Start with a simple exercise. Reconstruct positive identity statements to reflect who you are - even if it feels like you don’t believe them yet! Write them on a card and put them on your mirror, or on your computer and read it out loud every day. Make them part of your daily affirmations. Tattoo a reminder on your arm. Stick them on your steering wheel. Find them in your favourite songs and make them your anthems.

“I am an overcomer.”
“I make brave choices. I am brave!”
“I have self-discipline, I have willpower” (did anyone say liquid diet?!).
“I make healthy choices.”
“My story is inspring - I am inspiring.”
“I deserve a life that excites me.”

About the Author:

Marietjie Strauss is the founder of Reconstruct Community. She is a life coach that guides individuals to reconstruct their minds and stories in order to create the lives they want. When she is not busy with Reconstruct, she makes memories with her husband and three sons.


For more stories, support and advice join the Reconstruct Community.

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