When patients go under the knife for weight loss surgery, it is because they want to improve their health and their life. It is a courageous decision and should not be taken lightly. Patients need to change some of their habits after surgery to ensure long-term success. Here are some tips to maintain a healthy weight after bariatric surgery:
Join a Support Group
Having surgery can be anxiety-inducing, especially when so much hangs in the balance. Bariatric surgery is meant to change everything about your life, starting with your weight and eating habits. Many patients who seek bariatric surgery have chronic health and mobility issues. This type of surgery can reverse all of that, reducing the severity of chronic illness and helping patients to regain mobility following weight loss.
Joining a support group can help you work through any anxiety or apprehensive feelings you may experience before and after your surgery. The Obesity Action Coalition has a directory for bariatric surgery support groups in California. These support groups can help you persevere through your weight loss surgery journey.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Continuing to eat poorly following weight loss surgery can reverse the progress you've made. Despite the restrictions caused by surgical intervention, 50% of patients who receive bariatric surgery experience weight regain. This regain was more likely to affect patients with higher pre-surgery BMIs.
Eating healthfully following bariatric surgery is one of the best strategies for maintaining a healthy weight. Patients should practice portion control and consume a diet high in protein, avoiding foods with high levels of fat and sugar. Patients should also be sure to drink water frequently to avoid dehydration caused by the changes in their digestive system.
Exercise Regularly
Just like people without surgical intervention, patients who have undergone bariatric surgeries need to implement an appropriate exercise regimen to maintain a healthy weight. This can start with low-impact exercises like walking and swimming, then moving to more strenuous exercises like running, weight lifting, calisthenics, and more with a doctor’s clearance.
Make New Goals
Once you’ve reached your weight loss goals after surgery, you must choose new goals to help you keep up the momentum. These new goals can be additional weight loss, increased muscle mass, longer stamina, or even learning new healthy recipes to cook. Either way, setting new goals will help you to prevent weight regain and maintain your new healthy lifestyle.
Having weight loss surgery is only half of the battle. Making consistent lifestyle changes post-op is the only way to ensure lasting results. Be sure to speak with your doctor about the different ways you can reach and maintain a healthy weight after bariatric surgery.
The BASS Bariatric Surgery Center is a leader among weight loss surgery facilities. Our state-of-the-art surgical suites coupled with our impressive surgical team are here to provide the best care. To begin the weight loss surgery process, visit our website or give us a call at 925-281-3711 to learn more! We can’t wait to help make your weight loss goals a reality!
