Take Deep Breaths for Stress-Free Weight Loss

Posted: Feb 07 in Weight Loss Blog by Staff

Though sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and gastric band in Ft. Myers or Naples can help you take some of the stress out of losing weight, they will not eliminate stress from your life entirely. On the contrary, the challenge of adjusting to your body’s needs after weight loss surgery can add a few new anxieties to your life, which can make it hard to stay motivated and avoid problems like emotional eating.

This is why stress management techniques are crucial after weight loss surgery. You may already know a thing or two about progressive muscle relaxation, but it will be much easier to keep stress under control if you add a few more strategies to your repertoire as well. Deep breathing is a technique that anyone can master, and best of all, it can help you put an end to stress wherever and whenever you need to.

How to Breathe Deeply

We all know how to breathe, but we usually don’t use the full potential of our lungs. We predominantly take shallow breaths that don’t fill the lower portion of the lungs with air, and therefore do not get the full amount of oxygen we need. Because of this, it may come as little surprise that our normal breathing pattern often leads to anxiety and yes, shortness of breath.

Deep breathing corrects this issue by allowing the lungs to completely fill with oxygen as the diaphragm descends. Our lungs breathe in all the oxygen they need while completely breathing out carbon dioxide, and this can even our blood pressure and slow our heart rate.

To fully grasp the stress-busting power of a few deep breaths after sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass or gastric band, follow these steps:

1. Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Focus first on your normal breaths, paying close attention to how they make you feel and how your body moves.
2. Breathe in slowly through your nose and let the air fill your lungs. The air should move down into your belly; let your abdomen and chest completely expand with it. As you breathe in, imagine yourself inhaling peace and calm.
3. Breathe out slowly and naturally through your mouth or nose and imagine yourself exhaling stress and anxiety.

If this is your first deep breathing session, continue alternating between normal breaths and deep breaths as you repeat these steps to show yourself how different each will make you feel. When you feel comfortable with this exercise, you can eliminate normal breaths and focus entirely on breathing deeply. Try making your sessions about 10 minutes long at first and working up to 15 or 20 minutes.

Of course, deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation aren’t the only stress management techniques that can help after sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass or gastric band in Ft. Myers or Naples. Tell us what else helps you relax in the comments below!