In this episode of the Busy Bariatric Podcast, I’m diving into a topic that hits home for a lot of us post-bariatric surgery—finding healthy rewards that don’t involve food. Look, we’ve all been stuck in that cycle of using food as a way to cope, celebrate, or just get through the day. But if we want long-term weight loss and real lifestyle change, we need to rewire how we seek dopamine and emotional rewards.

I’ll break down how to replace food-based rewards with healthy sources of dopamine—think exercise (yes, lifting counts), hobbies that light you up, and social connections that actually support your goals. We’ll also get into mindfulness, why celebrating your wins without food is a game-changer, and how something as simple as a solid sleep routine can boost your mental health and overall well-being.

This journey is about more than just the weight—it’s about creating a self-care routine that makes you feel good without sabotaging your progress. So, let’s talk about how to build a lifestyle that fuels happiness and success beyond surgery.

00:00 Introduction to Healthy Rewards Post-Surgery

02:48 Breaking the Food Reward Cycle

05:52 Identifying Emotional Triggers for Food

08:31 Building Healthy Sources of Dopamine

11:42 Finding New Hobbies and Social Connections

14:28 Celebrating Milestones Without Food

17:35 Mindfulness and Meditation for Dopamine

20:21 Acts of Kindness and Community Engagement

23:27 Establishing a Healthy Sleep Routine

26:16 Conclusion: Creating a Balanced Life After SurgeryStruggling with optimizing your metabolism after bariatric surgery? Take our free assessment! 

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