Keep the Weight Off After Bariatric Surgery
After deciding to go through with one of the biggest decisions you can make in your life i.e. having bariatric surgery, your biggest fear can be regaining weight. But, the smartest thing you can do is stay calm, stress-free and take your Barimelts to boost your body’s optimal function. Taking the right vitamins and supplements is crucial in staying healthy and maintaining a healthy weight after the surgery.
Tips for After Bariatric Surgery
Also, there are a couple of other things that will help you in your post-operative journey. Here is a list of things to have in mind after having bariatric surgery to help you keep the weight off.
Have a Support System
However wonderful, getting bariatric surgery is an emotional roller coaster. Because of that every single patient that goes through it needs a rock-solid support system.
Ideally that system consists of family and friends. But no matter the personal support that a patient is getting, attending meetings of group support has proven to be the most successful tactic in managing the post-op battle.
It will help provide you with answers to questions that doctors or medical personnel can’t address and most of all it will show you that you’re not alone.
Have a Health Team
Except for having an exceptional support system you need to have an exceptional health team also. On this team, you have to have a nutritionist and a therapist.
It may not seem like a necessity before having the surgery, but both a nutritionist and a therapist will make all the difference in your post-op journey.
Rewrite Your Relationship With Food
With many of the patients that do decide to have bariatric surgery, the relationship with food is a complicated one. Rewriting your mindset toward food is essential. Thinking of food as fuel instead of as an emotional comfort can make all the difference.
It’s important to create new eating habits like eating smaller portions a couple of times a day. Immediately after surgery, the diet consists of 6 pureed meals a day. This will make the transition into eating smarter and healthier in the post-op way easier.
Avoid Simple Carbs
Simple carbs are highly processed foods like sugar, rice, white bread, and pasta. As a rule, stay away from any white foods. Replace such foods with wholesome and healthier options like brown rice. Brown rice is more nutritious and also contains a lot of fiber.
Protein Is Your Best Friend
Eating more protein should be your main goal once you have gone through bariatric surgery. It should be included in every meal you eat. Protein will help your body maintain muscle while losing fat while keeping you feeling full for longer after your meals.
Your nutritionist and your medical team will determine how many grams of protein you should consume and a day and you should follow that recommendation to the milligram.
Watch Fluid Intake While Eating
This is a very important one. Do not drink fluids before, during, or immediately after a meal. It’s essential to reserve the small space in your stomach for nutrient-rich, protein-rich, and high-quality food.
Separate food and fluid by at least half an hour. If you don’t and you drink before or during your meal, your stomach will fill up with fluid.
Stay Hydrated
Not drinking fluid while you’re eating, before and after you eat doesn’t mean you should stop hydrating your body. Drinking a lot of water will help you feel more energized and will prevent you from mistaking your thirst for hunger.
Many people already have trouble distinguishing between hunger and thirst, so you don’t have to make it harder on yourself.
Forget About Caffeine
Caffeine will literally work against your efforts to stay hydrated since it is a very strong diuretic. There are also many other downsides to consuming caffeine on a daily basis. Your chances of getting a stomach ulcer drastically rise, since caffeine has an erosive effect on the lining of the stomach.
Also, it increases your heart rate and has an influence on your mood. And in a very sensitive time like this one, you don’t need something that will destabilize your mood.
Make Fitness Priority One
Incorporating an exercise routine in your everyday life will do wonders not just for your body, but also for your spirit. It will keep you feeling motivated and positive.
Start by doing some light exercises for 30 minutes each day. As time passes, you can experiment and find different types of activities that are best suited for you.
Prioritize Sleep
Changing your wellness habits and your lifestyle for the better will be a very draining experience, there is no doubt about it.
Give your body at least 7 hours of sleep to recover from your new exercise routine, new eating habits, and your new mindset. Your body will be going through a lot of changes so it will need a proper rest.
Wrap-Up
You got this, we believe in you! Stick to your doctor’s plan and focus on your nutrition and you will reach your goals!
Images
Photo by Julia Larson from Pexels
Photo by Andres Ayrton from Pexels