Here are a few questions you may wish to consider:

Do you graze? That is, do you snack or eat small amounts of food over the full course of a day? If so, how often do you engage in this habit? Daily? Weekly? Monthly?

Do you eat while standing in front of the refrigerator? If so, how often do you do it?

Do you eat while watching television, tapping away on the lap-top keyboard, or driving to work? Again, if so, how often do you do any of these things?

Do you eat mindlessly, unaware as to whether or not you or actually hungry or unaware as to whether or not you have become full but continue to eat anyway?

If the answer to these questions keeps coming up yes, you might want to hit the reset button. Your eating habits are self-defeating, and that glint you spy from the corner of your eye is your relapse.

Weight Regain After Gastric Bypass Surgery

About 20% of gastric bypass patients experience substantial post-surgery weight gain. Patients must be particularly careful at the one-year mark because after their striking weight loss the appetite they once had simply can return. In fact, my appetite returned within a few months after my gastric bypass surgery.

Stress situations such as divorce or death of a family member can lead to weight gain. Inadequate preparation for the experience of a thinner self also can be a culprit.

Seeking comfort through eating is yet another cause for weight regain. Weight loss surgery alone cannot resolve any of the emotional issues that may have been present prior to the surgery.

Last but hardly least, bariatric patients often regain weight simply because they engage in eating habits that are destructive.

Bad Eating Habits and the Bariatric Patient

Much of the problem regarding weight regain after bariatric surgery is because patients simply do not monitor themselves very well.

A potential scenario for an all out crash and burn would be the bariatric patient who attends a social gathering unprepared. She heads for the Memorial Day barbeque at her close friend's house without having eaten something before she leaves home. She is hungry on the drive over and has not even brought along a bottle of spring water to help curb her appetite.

When she arrives, she greets her hostess and goes directly to the buffet table, picks up one of the large plates and begins to fill it while chatting with friends. She picks only traditional barbeque foods and side dishes. She begins eating while remaining at the buffet table and chatting away. When she finally takes a seat, it is directly across from where the food is laid out. Not only can see all the dishes that have been prepared but she can see them at all times.

And while we're at it, an alcoholic beverage might taste quiet nice before dessert, wouldn’t it?

This is a recipe for disaster, friends... it can set you on a course for failure.

Tips for Avoiding Poor Eating Habits

Instead of freelancing your post-surgery diet, a disciplined and thoughtful approach about how, when, and what you eat will help to avoid the pitfalls of poor choices.